Manufacturers of dietary supplements should absolutely be required to report serious adverse reactions to the Food and Drug Administration. That’s why the Center for Science in the Public Interest strongly supports the bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senators Hatch, Durbin, Enzi, Harkin and Kennedy. Reporting of adverse reactions will make it easier for the FDA to identify problem ingredients and to protect consumers.

Under the current voluntary system, the FDA receives less than 1 percent of all reports of adverse reactions to dietary supplements. We urge the Senate to approve this legislation promptly and hope that the House can pass a companion bill before the end of the current session. We also encourage Congress to provide sufficient funding to the FDA so that the Agency can timely respond to reports of adverse reactions and protect the public from any hazardous products.