A New Front Opens in the Battle to Protect Health Choice in the US
In new trade talks between the US and the European Union, we need to make sure “harmonization” doesn't make our supplement laws like theirs. Last March, the Obama Administration announced its intention to enter into Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations with the European Union (EU) to increase trade and investment between the two regions. According to the White House fact sheet, the goal of the negotiations is to boost economic growth in the US and EU, and increase jobs supported by transatlantic trade and investment. One of their stated aims is to reduce costly “behind the border” non-tariff barriers that impede the flow of goods, including agricultural goods. What we do not want to see a threat develop to our access to a wide range of higher-dose supplements or to legitimate health claims on products. With increasing harmonization of laws worldwide, it is important for us to fight back against inappropriate regulation of natural products among our trading partners. Inevitably, our regulatory agencies will come under pressure to conform, when trading partners adopt more restrictive policies.
