CDSL Announces Release of Final Report

November 24, 1997. Today at noon, the presidentially appointed Commission on Dietary Supplement Labels (CDSL) released a final report on its recommendations to President Clinton, Congress, and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. A press conference was held at 3:30 PM in the Department of Health and Human Services auditorium.

The creation of the CDSL and the CDSL report were mandated by the passage of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA) as means of providing expert guidance to legislators on how to make dietary supplement labels more accurate and informative for consumers. The seven-member Commission was charged with the task of addressing many important issues left unresolved with the passage of DSHEA.

"The dietary supplement industry and natural products consumers should be pleased by the positive tone of the report and its further support for the gains made under DSHEA," said HRF President Rob McCaleb, who has served on the CDSL since his appointment in November 1995. "The Commission endorsed the idea of independent expert advisory panels both within the industry and for the FDA, an idea which the industry has long advocated."

In preparing its final report, the Commission took into account testimony received from the public, natural products industry, and members of the health care and scientific communities during nine open meetings, as well as public comments received after release of a draft report in June 1997.

All parties who testified during the information gathering sessions will automatically receive a copy of the report. Others can order copies of the report by phone on or after November 24. Orders will be shipped from the government printing office beginning approximately one week after the release of the report.

To request a copy of the report, call Elizabeth Castro, Senior Research Fellow/CDSL staff at (202) 401-5811, or Birch and Davis at (301) 650-0219.

The report is also available on the Department of Health and Human Services homepage at http://web.health.gov/dietsupp