Are dietary supplements regulated?
While the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations for dietary supplements are different than those established for medications and over-the-counter drugs, the dietary supplement industry is still regulated. The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) was established in 1994 and established a set of safety and regulatory standards for all dietary supplements. One of the regulations in place is that the FDA requires a safety notification process for any new dietary ingredients to be used in a supplement. Manufacturing facilities must be registered with the FDA, and comply with cGMPs (current good manufacturing practices) for quality control. Any structure/function or health claims made about a product must be submitted to the FDA along with a correct product label. The FDA or the FTC can also take regulatory action against any company making false or untruthful claims about their products.
