The Natural Products Association (NPA) criticized a product labeling proposal by California regulators that it said would restrict consumers’ access to products, slow job creation and hurt the economy. The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is currently considering making changes to the way certain products, including dietary supplements and other natural products, are labeled in the State of California.
 
“This proposal would be a boon for trial lawyers at the cost of consumers, small businesses and the economy,” said Dr. Daniel Fabricant, executive director and CEO of NPA. “Moving forward with this proposal will restrict access to products and make them more expensive for consumers. NPA strongly encourages regulators to consider the negative unintended consequences this rule could have on consumers and the overall business climate in California.”
 
Areas of clarification and recommendations outlined by NPA in its comments to OEHHA include:
 

• Better define “labeling” and make the proposed draft consistent with current regulations
• Provide greater clarity as to when labeling could be used to transmit warning statements through the use of examples
• Provide clarity to firms as to when a foreign language requirement is triggered and when it is not
• Reexamine the economic impact for the cost to the Agency and businesses, which will ultimately be passed on to California consumers
• Exempt out-of-state Internet retailers for “prior to purchase” requirement as the warning statements are already contained on products by the manufacturer