Industry win: Colo. bill restricting dietary supplements for minors amended

24-Mar-2023 - Last updated on 24-Mar-2023 at 16:04 GMT

Getty Images / JJ van Ginkel

Stakeholders worked with the sponsor and supporters of the bill to remove supplements from the equation.

The Natural Products Association (NPA) is doing a victory lap after helping to convince Colorado lawmakers to remove dietary supplements from Senate Bill 23-176. At the heart of the bill is eating disorder prevention, with the bill’s original language stating “the bill prohibits retail establishments from selling, transferring, or otherwise furnishing dietary supplements for weight loss or over-the-counter diet pills to any individual under 18 years of age without a prescription.”

Thursday Majority Leader Dominick Moreno amended the bill and removed the language after extensive collaboration between the NPA, Natural Grocers and Majority Leader.

Kyle Turk, director of government affairs, NPA, said this is an unprecedented victory and is grateful for Majority Leader Moreno for his willingness to collaborate.

“We wish more state lawmakers in other capitals would exercise the same approach to science, reason, and common sense,” said Turk. “Far too often, legislators simply ignore science, data and the consequences of poorly-designed legislation that ends up hurting consumers, but this was not one of those instances. Our team immediately had the opportunity to share the impact language in the bill would have on consumers and industry stakeholders. We are grateful to the Majority leader and other stakeholders in the eating disorder community who considered the facts and recognized that there is no data point connecting eating disorders and the use of dietary supplements.”

Turk said that while Colorado was receptive to stakeholders’ feedback, the growing number of proposals by state legislatures and actions by the FDA still remain a threat. From Maryland to California to New York and elsewhere, Colorado isn’t the only state seeking to restrict dietary supplements to minors.

“The industry is fighting a two-front war, and no other organization has consistently fought against government overreach than NPA. From dangerous proposals by state legislatures, NAC, NMN, and even mandatory product listing victories like this one in Colorado demonstrate the necessity for engaging in public policy and the power of our industry’s clear and unified message,” Turk told NutraIngredients-USA.