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www.thenhf.com NEWSLETTER No. 8 NOVEMBER 2005
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When you purchase a prescription for yourself or your pet, your name, address, and phone number is automatically fed into an electronic drug surveillance program database. All law enforcement officials will have open access to all data. You may not opt-out. (National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act of 2005-enacted into law August 11, 2005)
Does this sound like the America, "land of the free" we have always known, or a complete invasion of your health privacy?
Recently, your aunt who had congestive heart failure and was a life-long smoker, suddenly expired. Besides the prescription heart medication, she was also taking Vitamin C and Vitamin E supplements at the time of her death. Her physician, by law, must file an adverse reaction report listing her prescription (Coumadin), Vitamin C, and Vitamin E. This will be the case in all U. S. states if H.R.3156 is enacted. (The Dietary Supplement Access and Awareness Act).
Would anyone in their right mind suspect that her death was caused by Vitamin C or Vitamin E? Unfortunately, representatives Davis (CA), Dingell (MI), and Waxman (CA) introduced H.R.3156 and failed to read the overwhelming data supporting the safety of supplements and they are on a mission to use this legislation to disassemble DSHEA as we know it. Please help us stop them.
The United States is known for the most lenient dietary supplement laws in the world. Other countries envy our DSHEA Act and the freedom it has given to American citizens for 11 years now. Unfortunately, we must "circle the wagons" and fight a hard battle to retain these rights. Anyone that is mildly aware can witness the struggle of Canada, the UK, and New Zealand - just to name a few - fighting to preserve their health freedoms against their respective governments and the massive power of the pharmaceutical groups.
We, in the U.S., where most of our NHF members reside, must understand that we are on the chopping block also, and the threat is coming from the federal and the state level. Some states are now beginning to react as "vigilante enforcers" for what are normally FDA functions. See what the state of New York has planned for its population in the legislative updates below.
We ask that you read the legislative bills listed in this newsletter and contact your representatives now. We must halt this madness.
Other topics in the Issue
Critical Legislation to Act Upon
NHF Prepares for November Codex Battle
Jump on the Anti-Fluoridation Bandwagon
Are Herbal Products on the Hit List?
And More............
NHF LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
Federal Legislation
Biodefense and Pandemic Vaccine and Drug Development Act of 2005 (nicknamed Bioshield) S.1873
Sponsored by Sen. Richard Burr (NC) and introduced October 17, 2005, it has 5 co-sponsors and as of October 24, 2005, it is now placed on the Senate legislative calendar.
The official text states it as "A bill to prepare and strengthen biodefense of the United States against deliberate, accidental, and natural outbreaks of illness and for other purposes." This legislation being fast-tracked through Congress, is definitely anti-consumer in its secretiveness, elimination of the basic right of trial by jury, and the utilization of taxpayer funding for its mission. Pro-vaccine Senators are pushing this bill which will leave U.S. citizens without legal recourse if injured by a drug or vaccine that is mandated by federal authorities during a pandemic or health emergency. Manufacturers and researchers have complete liability protection from any harm associated with drugs or vaccines that are forced by the government upon U.S. citizens in response to a bioterrorism event.
This harmful legislation also establishes a clandestine agency, untouchable by the Freedom of Information Act, for the research and development of drugs and vaccines. The agency is BARDA, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Agency.
As stated in NewsWithViews, "The Patriot Act has a clause that allows a Governor to declare a state of medical emergency that imposes martial law, requires each person’s submission to the National Guard, demands relinquishing of personal firearms, and mandates involuntary vaccination, treatment, or quarantine. The President wants to commandeer each state’s National Guard, and with the military, perform those acts in case of Bird Flu."
We ask that you call Congress, 202-224-3121, and write your Senators and Congresspeople expressing your outrage.
Click the following links for both versions of the bill text:
Biodefense and Pandemic Vaccine and Drug
Development Act of 2005 (Introduced in Senate)
[S.1873.IS] Biodefense and Pandemic Vaccine and Drug Development Act of 2005 (Reported in Senate)[S.1873.RS]
The Dietary Supplement Access and Awareness Act H.R.3156 (Similar to H.R. 3377 & S. 722 but now revised for more FDA control)
Introduced by Susan Davis (CA), John Dingell (MI), and Henry Waxman (CA), this bill is currently in the House and it's title is wickedly deceiving. The FDA has been held at bay from indiscriminate banning of vitamin and mineral supplements, amino acids, and herbs due to the DSHEA Act. H.R. 3156 would drastically change this status, as no longer would the burden of proof concerning supplement safety be on the government but would instead be required of the manufacturer and the citizen. All non-vitamin and mineral supplements would be under unwarranted scrutiny as an adverse event report would be required to be filed by the patients and their physicians. If passed, 70% of current supplements would be under these drug-like restrictions. Remember, we are talking about supplements, a natural, food product. DSHEA protections will be eliminated.
Click the following link to read NHF's Lobbyist's overview of anti-consumer H.R. 3156: Click the following link to read the original bill: http://www.thenhf.com/HR3156%20DSHEA.pdf
Click the following link for the H.R.3156 Petition Letter:
National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act of 2005 H.R.1132/S.518 (Signed into law August 11, 2005) (To provide for the establishment of a controlled substance monitoring program in each State) Sponsor: Rep. Edward Whitfield (R-KY)
The U.S. House and Senate passed by voice vote H.R. 1132/S.518, the National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting (NASPER) Act of 2005. This legislation authorizes $60 million in new federal grants to assist states in creating new programs and expanding existing ones. Supposedly, this legislation is aimed at identifying prescription drug addiction, and treating the abuse. The bill originally was a physician-patient centered, public-health bill but now includes the expanded involvement of law enforcement. Sadly, it allows local, state, and federal agents direct use of this nationwide database of information on every prescription written for U.S. citizens and their pets. If your dog is prescribed anything that is on the controlled substances list, your name, address, and phone will be entered into this monitoring program.
(The Controlled Substances Act-This law is a
consolidation of numerous laws regulating the manufacture and
distribution of narcotics, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens,
anabolic steroids, and chemicals used in the illicit production of
controlled substances.) Click the following link to view bill H.R.1132: http://www.thenhf.com/h1132.pdf
Click the following link to view bill S.518: http://www.thenhf.com/s518.pdf
Senator Durbin's Amendment (#1379) to the Department of Defense (DoD) Authorization Bill S.1043
This amendment would require manufacturers who sell dietary supplements on military bases, except for vitamins, to submit reports of adverse health reactions to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, Amendment #1379 would also apply to non-military sales of supplements to consumers.
Supplements should never be regulated as drugs. Durbin's amendment is simply an attempt to beef up adverse event reports against supplements so that the regulations may have an excuse to treat them as drugs. Please take the time to contact your U. S. Senators now in opposition of the Durbin Amendment # 1379, thereby fighting to save our DSHEA liberties.
Click the following links to read Lee Bechtel's reports: http://www.thenhf.com/government_affairs_57.htm http://www.thenhf.com/national_health_federation_durbin1379_july2005_press_release.htm
DURBIN AMENDMENT S.A.1379 - Click here to view the amendment.
Click on this address
to find
your U.S. Senators:
http://www.senate.gov
Click on this address to
contact your Congressperson in the U.S. House of Representatives:
http://www.house.gov/writerep
State Legislation
CALIFORNIA ALERT
California Health Insurance
Reliability Act (CHIRA) SB 840 This bill was introduced by Senator Sheila James Kuehl (D-23) with the purpose of providing health insurance to all people living in California for 90 days or more, regardless of immigration status. The program will be financed with current government health funding, a payroll tax, and other taxes that will replace the need for premiums.
Investigative reporter, Peter Barry Chowka, has written an excellent article detailing this move toward Socialist medicine in California. Please use the link below to access his piece so that you may thoroughly understand the threat to your health-freedom if SB 840 were to pass into law.
All Californians must oppose this legislation and act now as it has already passed the California Senate and will be voted on in Assembly after the November elections.
http://www.thenhf.com/sb_840_bill_20050712_amended_asm.pdf
NEW YORK ALERT New York State Task Force on Life & the Law
Policing dietary supplements, which has always been under the authority of the Food and Drug Administration, may soon have a self-imposed assistant if New York State has its way. Feeling that the FDA has been inept in protecting their citizens from the dietary supplement industry, the goal of the task force is to form a panel within the State Health Department of New York State to oversee and evaluate supplement safety.
They intend to go a giant step forward in requesting that the State Health Department actually ban any supplement that it believes is harmful, and require the reporting of adverse events concerning a supplement (see H.R. 3156 under proposed Federal legislation). New York State was one of several states that took it upon itself to ban ephedra statewide even though the federal ban issue was still tied up in court dispute.
Even though supplement consumers have expressed their desire for less government intervention and regulation of their access to dietary supplements, there is a continuing stance that citizens must be nannied and are incapable of making intelligent decisions on their own concerning health. Very worrisome is the power and track record of this task force, as many state laws involving health issues have been passed due to their endorsement.
The New York State Task Force website is www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/taskfce/
The Task Force Report ( Dietary Supplements
Balancing Consumer Choice & Safety, New York State Task Force on Life & the
Law) may be found
here:
www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/taskfce/
PENNSYLVANIA ALERT Pennsylvania House Bill 995
Introduced by Representatives LaGrotta, Caltagirone,Denlinger, J. Evans, Habay, James, Josephs, Lederer, Pistella, Thomas, Walko, Washington and Youngblood. An Act amending the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.233, No.64), known as The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, regulating the sale of dietary supplements. Referred to JUDICIARY, March 16, 2005.
This bill would require that all dietary supplements be sold only behind the counter . It would also prohibit minors from purchasing such safe products as Vitamin C and B vitamins (even though they could still buy OTC drugs that pose an actual danger to their health). Hidden from the view of a purchaser, it limits not only the availability to the consumer of a natural product for health ills, restricting freedom of choice, but also free commerce.
If you are a Pennsylvanian, please contact your representatives and oppose HB 995.
Click the following to view HB 995 (Session of 2005) http://www.thenhf.com/HB0995P1141.pdf
International Legislation
AUSTRALIA Therapeutic Goods Amendment Bill 2005 (TGA) No.(left blank), 2005 (Secretive and a stranglehold on health freedom for Australia)
The National Health Federation wants to widely publicize and ask for defeat of this Australian bill which you may view the entire bill from the link below. It is from the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia (House of Representatives 2004-2005) and is listed as a "Draft-in-Confidence", stating "This draft is supplied in confidence and should be given appropriate protection." It contains 102 pages of government penalties in regards to importing, exporting, and falsifying documentation of dietary supplements that are not approved by the TGA. For example, it would impose a 5 year prison sentence on anyone who attempts to order a dietary supplement from overseas that the TGA has banned.
The Parliament seems to intend to keep this under wraps and surprise its citizens with it in the future but we want this posted far and wide, opposing this bill and its tactics of government control of its people.
Click the following link to view a small excerpt of this bill and its penalties: http://www.thenhf.com/T_G_A_Bill_2005_excerpt.pdf
Click the following link to view the bill in its entirety: http://www.thenhf.com/Therapeutic_Goods_Amendment_Bill_2005.pdf
Click the following link to view:
Is the
Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia) guilty of Murder?
Please visit the NHF Government Affairs page to stay abreast: http://www.thenhf.com/government_affairs.html
NHF HEALTH-FREEDOM UPDATES & ARTICLES
The National Health Federation -vs- Codex The NHF is preparing for the upcoming November Codex Alimentarius meeting in Bonn, Germany, to which it will be sending three delegates to tackle, among other things, the Nutrient Risk Assessment issue. An overview of the Federation's agenda for the meeting, written by board member and Codex delegate Paul Anthony Taylor follows:
Codex Battle Prepares to Move on to Act II by Paul Anthony Taylor
Although the Guidelines for Vitamin and Mineral Food Supplements have now been adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, there still remains much to play for in the battle to maintain and improve our health freedoms. Thus far, for example, the upper safe levels for the Guidelines have not yet been set, nor are there any restrictions on the forms of vitamins and minerals that can be used in dietary supplements.
As regular readers of this newsletter will be aware, the Guidelines were drafted by the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU), who meet once a year each November in Bonn, Germany. This year’s meeting of the CCNFSDU will be held during 21-25 November, and the National Health Federation will once again be sending a delegation to attend, lobby delegations, speak out at the meeting, and report back on the outcome.
Three items on the agenda at this year's meeting are of particular importance to anybody who has an interest in health freedom.
Proposals for Additional or Revised Nutrient Reference Values (NRVs) for labelling purposes
The proposal to consider additional or revised nutrient reference values (NRVs) for labelling purposes was originally made at the November 2003 meeting of the CCNFSDU, and this year the Codex delegates will be considering a discussion paper prepared by South Africa.
NRVs can essentially be thought of as a way of describing the nutritional requirements of the average person. Naturally, however, this presents us with a problem because, given that each of us is genetically unique, can it really be said that there is such a thing as an ‘average’ person? Moreover, in considering ‘requirements’ the fundamental question arises as to whether we are talking about the nutritional requirements for ordinary health, or those for optimum health.
The European Union and its allies will doubtless be pressing at this meeting for the NRVs to be set as near to RDA levels as possible. Fortunately, however, the discussion paper prepared by South Africa shows clear evidence of support for the argument that NRVs should reflect the most recent scientific research, in order to promote optimum health and reduce the risk of disease in the majority of people. As such, it is expected that the opponents of natural health and health freedom will very likely be trying every trick in the book at this meeting in order to achieve their aims.
Recommendations on the Scientific Basis of Health Claims
This CCNFSDU agenda item is crucial to the future of health freedom, because, in order for chronic disease to become largely a thing of the past, dietary supplement manufacturers need to be able to provide truthful and non-misleading information about their products.
At present, however, health claims for dietary supplements are mostly either illegal or subject to strict regulatory controls in the vast majority of countries. Unsurprisingly, therefore, rather than making it easier for dietary supplement manufacturers to print lifesaving information on their product labels, the current draft of these Recommendations appears to have been prepared in such a way as to allow the current unacceptably restrictive regulatory controls to be enforced still further.
The European Commission delegate famously stated at the 2003 meeting of the CCNFSDU that health claims for vitamin and mineral supplements should be prohibited. Given therefore that the CCNFSDU Chairman stated at the same meeting that drugs are to mitigate and prevent diseases, and that the role of food supplements is to support the diet, the type of world that Codex envisages is now becoming increasingly apparent.
Discussion Paper on Risk Analysis
This CCNFSDU Discussion Paper is particularly crucial to the future development of the Guidelines for Vitamin and Mineral Food Supplements, as the Guidelines state that the upper safe levels of vitamins and minerals in supplements will be established by scientific risk assessment. Notably therefore, when this issue was discussed at last year's CCNFSDU meeting, the committee indicated that it would be dealing with the “over dosage of nutrients.” The content of this year’s Discussion Paper continues in much the same vein, making it abundantly clear that the CCNFSDU will be treating vitamins and minerals as dangerous chemicals, as opposed to essential dietary elements. Until such time as this approach changes, therefore, our health and our freedoms will continue to remain seriously at risk.
The agenda items and documents discussed above can be downloaded from www.codexalimentarius.net/download/report/646/nf27_01e.pdf
To read excellent articles on Codex click the following link:
Insights from Our Lobbyist - Lee Bechtel
Congress Poised To Again
Block Drug Reimportation
The NHF is pleased that
Congress has finally stepped up and forcefully addressed
this long overdue issue.
Two examples of FDA mismanagement referenced in the bill Report filed with the legislation:
Note - This is a news item and not a call for letters from members.
The Yearly Flu Scare is Upon Us
Click the following link to read: by Mark Sircus, Ac., OMD, the Director of International Medical Veritas Association.
Jump on the Anti-Fluoridation Bandwagon
Its a David and Goliath saga that the NHF has tackled for decades, but there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel:
The watchdog organization, the Environmental Working Group (EWG), petitioned the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to list fluoride in tap water as a carcinogen.
Investigation began against a dentistry professor by Harvard University concerning suppression of research in a report by his student to the NIH. The paper showed a risk of osteosarcoma in boys from fluoridated water.
EPA scientists (11 EPA Unions with over 7,000 environmental and health professionals) called for a moratorium on a drinking-water fluoridation program across the nation, requesting that fluoride be viewed as the cancer causing agent that it is and has always been.
As of November 1, 2005, fluoridation in the
United Kingdom is illegal.
Please sign the petition supporting the EPA Unions' request for a nationwide moratorium fluoridation : http://www.powalliance.org/petition/index.html .
Major media coverage is beginning to access the situation of this industry waste from phosphate fertilizer manufacturing that has been forced upon U. S. citizens and in other countries. Time Magazine recently published an article and many states (Hawaii, Nebraska, Oregon, Kansas) have been winning against fluoridation of their water supply. Others are battling this issue as this newsletter goes out.
Bellingham, Washington is one of those currently waging war, and ABC World News is covering the issue. On Sunday evening, November 6th, 2005, check your program guides for this piece as the Washington State Dental Association is the foe trying to get water fluoridation passed before the local ballots go out next week.
We must keep the pressure on, keep the anti-fluoride issue in the mainstream media while we have that tunnel light. Do your part to make this happen once and for all.
Click the following link to view a letter from a concerned citizen to his representatives opposing fluoride: http://www.thenhf.com/fluoridation_59.htm
Click the following link to view the NHF fluoride page: http://www.thenhf.com/fluoridation.html
Are Herbal Products on the Hit List Next?
Botanical (herbal) dietary supplements are more popular than ever, not only for humans but for their pets also. This popularity and increased sales has sent up a red flag and pharmaceutical groups are wanting a piece of this pie. So, spin articles are appearing in mass claiming adverse health effects might occur in the population if the FDA doesn't regulate herbal products with a tighter rein.
Under DSHEA, botanical dietary supplements are considered low risk, as are vitamin and mineral supplements, as data acknowledges, and therefore are regulated as foods. At present the FDA has a voluntary system in place for reporting adverse events concerning herbs and supplements, receiving less than 1% associated with dietary supplements. The FDA wants to require mandatory adverse event reporting and have stepped up their efforts to regulate supplements in general with their Operation Cure-All program, at this point, they are mainly warning companies on illegal claims in literature or on websites.
With the ephedra fiasco fueling the fire, "good manufacturing practices" (GMP's) put into place by the FDA to ensure reliable quality, and manufacturers pre-warned that other supplements could follow ephedra's demise, the horizon for herbal products regulation seems a sure bet. For the FDA to realize their true goal, which is oversight on botanicals, one avenue is the issuing of a guidance document for botanicals used in prescription drugs, which entices companies to be able to eliminate preclinical trials on toxicity if they only take products through the clinical trials towards the efficacy determining stage. This steering of dietary supplement manufacturers towards the FDA's drug-approval process and standardized methods, with its benefits of premarket approval and benefits claim of product, is their strategy because at this point the FDA cannot require toxicity data on herbal products. They still will regulate if risk is indicated by data, which is why a push towards more federal research on botanical products is their plan and the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements now has a budget of around $ 25 million.
DSHEA has always posed a challenge to the FDA and they are trying to circumvent its restrictions anyway they can. At this point they have no formal plan to determine the risks and benefits of botanical dietary supplements but many of the NIH institutes are currently working on that research. Tighter regulation of herbal supplements seems eminent.
"Someone must teach new things,
Then out of all of it comes the new truth
to become a part of us...Thus we receive new facts to make up our proud
possession of knowledge."
Liberty, Equity, Fidelity, Security
These four words were emblazoned on the original NHF shield by the National Health Federation's founder, Fred Hart, over 50 years ago with his vision for people in all walks of life to oppose monopolistic trends in health and protect the freedoms of the American people in all matters of health.
Click the following link to view "A Salute to Fred Hart":
Click the following link to view "The Truth About This Man, Fred J. Hart" and the inception of the National Health Federation: http://www.thenhf.com/FRED_HART_THE_TRUTH_ABOUT_THIS_MAN.pdf
If you believe in f
http://www.thenhf.com/join_the_nhf.html
NATIONAL HEALTH FEDERATION
P.O. Box 688
Main phone: 1-(626) 357-2181
Fax: 1-(626) 303-0642
e-mail: contact-us@thenhf.com
website: www.thenhf.com
Cheri Tips - Newsletter Editor
Scott Vincent Adams - Webmaster
NHF President
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do not necessarily state or reflect those of the NHF, and may not be used for
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Copyright © 2005 National Health Federation.
All Rights Reserved. |
With
all the media hype, card tables set up in grocery stores with a white-coated
nurse injecting the willing against the dreaded flu, what are we to do? To
ease your fears or just for the sake of education, read a wonderful article
on the subject and learn the natural alternatives available to you.
