S. 1538 Background Information

In 1994, Congress passed the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). which provided for increased research on the benefits and risks of dietary supplement, public education on dietary supplements and consumer protections. The Food and Drug Administration is the agency primarily responsible for enforcement of DSHEA. The Act also created the Office of Dietary Supplements within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to expand research and consumer information about the health effects of dietary supplements.

On July 31, 2003, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced S.1538, to provide additional resources for the enforcement and implementation of DSHEA by the FDA to regulate dietary supplements as required under DSHEA. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.