The Natural Products Association (NPA) is taking a leading role to defeat a new proposal in the Massachusetts state legislature which would remove access to common dietary supplements and deny those under the age of 18 from purchasing them altogether.

Minors in Massachusetts are legally permitted to purchase over-the-counter medications like sleeping pills, Dramamine, and pseudoephedrine, but the new proposal would prohibit them from purchasing common natural wellness products like whey protein, NPA noted.

“It makes no sense at all to ban safe natural products or move them behind the counter when minors can still buy sleeping pills, pseudoephedrine, and Dramamine. Dietary supplements are simply natural ingredients found in foods, and restricting access to them is unfair to Massachusetts consumers, hurts responsible retailers and drains the state budget through lost sales taxes. Nobody wins,” said Dr. Daniel Fabricant, President and CEO of the NPA.    

Massachusetts State Representative Kay Khan introduced House Bill Number 3471 which would block the sale of “dietary supplements for weight loss or muscle building” to anyone under the age of 18 and would also require these supplements to be placed behind the counter of a retail store, only to be accessed by a “manager, assistant manager, acting manager or other supervisory personnel at such location.”

Dietary supplements are regulated under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dietary Supplements are classified as a food, and no other foods are placed behind a counter only to be accessed by a manager or supervisor. Also, if they weren’t safe for consumption by minors, or at all for that matter, then they wouldn’t be allowed on the shelves in the first place, NPA said. Millions of Americans use dietary supplements safely on a daily basis.