Regulations for Vitamins & Supplements
 

Once again there seems to be a push to regulate vitamins and supplements. Imo this is being brought to us by Big Pharma and anyone who knows me knows how I feel about them... This will mean you would have to get a prescription and I would guess an increase in price.

Do any of you know if there would be any plus side to this? For me figuring out which vitamin or supplement brands to buy is not so easy (thank goodness for this group) and transparency or FDA approval is not a requirement. WOuld this make it easier to pick out the good ones?

I am personally against this proposal but am willing to look at both sides.

(I am not sure if this is the place for this post but it is about vitamins and supplements. :winky:)

The rules may be different in other countries but in Australia vitamin and supplement products fall under the brief of the Therapeutic Goods Administration, which is similar to the FDA. The TGA is part of the Federal Department of Health and also monitors prescription medications.

Generally, a seller of a vitamin or supplement product must provide the TGA with evidence that it contains the contents claimed for it. Advertising of these products can not be deceptive or misleading. For example, an advertisement for vitamins must not imply that vitamin supplements are a substitute for good nutrition or a balanced diet.

The TGA strongly advises people not to use the Net to import vitamin or supplement products unless they know exactly what is in the preparation and have checked the legal requirements for importation and use in Australia.

Anybody can lodge a complaint with the TGA about a vitamin or supplement product which may not meet the guidelines.

I think that this system works fairly well.