Massachusetts pulls bill banning minors from buying weight-loss, muscle-building supplements
WASHINGTON — A Massachusetts bill that would ban the sale of weight-loss and muscle-building dietary supplements to minors has been pulled and sent to a study by the Joint Committee on Public Health. The move essentially ends any prospect for passage in this legislative session.
The move by the state legislature drew praise from the Council for Responsible Nutrition, which has aggressively fought against this legislation since it was first introduced in 2015.
“This bill does nothing more than attempt to restrict consumer access to safe, legal, and strictly regulated products,” said Mike Greene, senior vice president, government relations, CRN. “CRN thanks legislators in Massachusetts for recognizing the needless burden HB 1195 would place on consumers and businesses alike.”
Partnering with like-minded organizations, CRN worked with a coalition of opposition and testified twice before the JCPH to defend consumer access to safe dietary supplements and to highlight its concerns with HB 1195.
“Consumers are well-protected under the stringent federal regulatory structure,” said Greene. “While we’re always seeking ways to enhance consumer safety, HB 1195 did nothing to achieve this. It is misguided and the arguments made by the bill’s proponents are broad, unproven, and not applicable to dietary supplements. If passed, HB 1195 would prevent responsible consumers from purchasing weight-loss and fitness supplements that are backed by considerable scientific evidence and a long history of safe use. Further, the bill would place an economic burden on Massachusetts’ 400 private retail establishments and 300 registered pharmacies that carry these products.”
During testimony before the JCPH in October, CRN argued that, if passed, the “overreaching” bill would hurt businesses from large pharmacy retailers to small mom-and-pop health food stores. According to CRN’s testimony, the legislation, if passed, could require the hiring of new staff, the purchase of equipment/operating systems, costs for additional storage and other measures to ensure products aren’t easily accessible.
Although the chance of HB 1195 being pulled from study and resurfacing during this legislative session is unlikely, CRN stated that it will not rest on its laurels. The association will continue monitoring for similar legislation in Massachusetts and other state legislatures.
The move by the state legislature drew praise from the Council for Responsible Nutrition, which has aggressively fought against this legislation since it was first introduced in 2015.
“This bill does nothing more than attempt to restrict consumer access to safe, legal, and strictly regulated products,” said Mike Greene, senior vice president, government relations, CRN. “CRN thanks legislators in Massachusetts for recognizing the needless burden HB 1195 would place on consumers and businesses alike.”
Partnering with like-minded organizations, CRN worked with a coalition of opposition and testified twice before the JCPH to defend consumer access to safe dietary supplements and to highlight its concerns with HB 1195.
“Consumers are well-protected under the stringent federal regulatory structure,” said Greene. “While we’re always seeking ways to enhance consumer safety, HB 1195 did nothing to achieve this. It is misguided and the arguments made by the bill’s proponents are broad, unproven, and not applicable to dietary supplements. If passed, HB 1195 would prevent responsible consumers from purchasing weight-loss and fitness supplements that are backed by considerable scientific evidence and a long history of safe use. Further, the bill would place an economic burden on Massachusetts’ 400 private retail establishments and 300 registered pharmacies that carry these products.”
During testimony before the JCPH in October, CRN argued that, if passed, the “overreaching” bill would hurt businesses from large pharmacy retailers to small mom-and-pop health food stores. According to CRN’s testimony, the legislation, if passed, could require the hiring of new staff, the purchase of equipment/operating systems, costs for additional storage and other measures to ensure products aren’t easily accessible.
Although the chance of HB 1195 being pulled from study and resurfacing during this legislative session is unlikely, CRN stated that it will not rest on its laurels. The association will continue monitoring for similar legislation in Massachusetts and other state legislatures.