FDA Heavy-Handed with Complementary Industry

The U.S Federal Drug Administration (FDA), responsible for regulating the manufacture and sale of medicines and drugs in the United States could be accused of heavy handedness in it's treatment of non-orthodox medicine and supplement manufacturers after armed raids on several pharmacists and practitioners.

Pharmaceutical manufacturers are required by law to carry out extensive research and testing on drugs before they can be marketed. In particular, manufacturers cannot make claims about the benefits of drugs without significant research to support their claims.

Ten years ago, the FDA tried to pass legislation to impose the same restrictions on alternative medicines. The industry objected strongly, claiming that while pharmaceutical companies could recover the costs of their research by patenting drugs, there was no way to protect natural medicines and supplements.

American congress compromised with the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act 1994, which stated supplement manufacturers could market their products, but could not claim to treat specific diseases without "general scientific agreement". Similar rules apply in the UK.

Perhaps unhappy with this compromise, the FDA gained permission to form armed "Special Weapons and Tactics" teams to raid pharmacists and herbalists in search of illegal vitamins and herbal supplements. During the late 1990's, several offices were raided with staff held at gunpoint and confidential records and credit card details confiscated.

Meanwhile, how did the administration deal with pharmaceutical companies accused of false advertising and substandard manufacturing? Threatening letters. The heavens the UK's Medical Control Agency has a better sense of proportion...

Friday, 10 August 2001