Return-Path: jham@concentric.net Errors-To: Date: Sun, 10 Aug 1997 13:41:45 -0400 (EDT) X-Sender: jham@pop3.concentric.net To: Paracelsus@teleport.com From: John Hammell Subject: Commission to Disallow Public Testimony 8/14-8/15 Unless We SPEAK OUT! Cc: Dave Hartley Note:It is IMPERATIVE that we email,fax, call, Fisher en masse using form letter below beginning TODAY Sunday 8/10 through FRIDAY. Please FORWARD this message, please download it and fax it, please bring it to your health food store and pass out copies. please relay this message to your senators and congressmen. For email addresses of all members of Congress go to http://www.senate.gov/senator/membmail.html links from that site will take you to one from which you can also email your congressman. They think they can slip one PAST us just because Congress is recessed and lots of people are on vacation, so if you are reading this, PLEASE HELP! PUBLIC TESTIMONY MUST BE ALLOWED TO BE HEARD AT FINAL MEETING OF COMMISSION ON DIETARY SUPPLEMENT LABELS 8/14-8/15 Kenneth D. Fisher, Ph.D. Executive Director August 10, 1997 Commission on Dietary Supplement Labels Tel. 202-401-5811, Fax 202-205-0463, email cdsl@birchdavis.com Dr. Fisher: A caller to your office was told by Sandy Saunders that public testimony would be disallowed by the Commission at its last meeting to be held at the Hyatt Regency Reston, Reston Town Center, 1800 Presidents Street, Reston, Virginia from 8:30 am- 4:30 August 14, and from 8:30- 3PM August 15th. I feel that it would be a GROSS INJUSTICE to disallow public testimony in this all important closing meeting, ESPECIALLY due to the ENORMOUS CONTROVERSY that your draft report has already caused, and is CERTAIN to continue to cause unless massively re-written so as to be in compliance with the law, and to PROPERLY carry out the mandate given to you by Congress! Of the 123 comments received by your Commission by 8/5, at least 82 (2/3rds) called for an extension on the comments period- wanting it to be extended until the end of OCTOBER to give the public sufficient time to procure your 77 page draft report, to read it, and to draft comments. (Congress is not in session and lots of people are on vacation. This is a SCAM!) I am aware that Emord and Associates has stated in comments submitted to your Commission that under 21 U.S.C. § 321 et.seq. 1994 (The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act), the Commission possesses no power or authority other than defined by statute. I am aware that the Commission has failed to discharge its duties. I am angered that the commission has made no effort to evaluate FDA's prior restraint of truthful health claims from reaching consumers via dietary supplement labels and labelling. I am aware that the FDA has made no effort to define "significant scientific agreement", and that your commission utterly fails to evaluate any alternatives for providing truthful and non misleading health information to consumers on labels and in labeling. I am aware that the Commission exceeded its statutory authority by issuing recommendations regarding OTC products. I demand that all ultra vires recommendations be removed from your final report: recommendations concerning safety of dietary supplements, the format of letters of notification for statements of nutritional support, the maintenance of files substantiating those claims, OTC regulations of botanicals, and funding and incentive for scientific research. STICK to the task AT HAND. You have FAILED in your MANDATE! Moreover, I demand that the Commission not assist the European-American Phytomedicines Coalition to infiltrate the American market in herbal products. I strongly suggest that the Commission not cater to the interests of multinational pharmaceutical trade associations such as EAPC, and I advise that the Commission not issue a final report without VERY CAREFULLY reading the comments submitted by Suzanne Harris, JD of the Law Loft on behalf of the Life Extension Foundation, and National Health Federation which analyze the extreme importance of not blurring the lines between food and drugs in order to protect US business interests, as well as consumer rights considering emerging international law! Signed: Address City: State: Zip (Form Letter Provided by International Advocates for Health Freedom 800-333-2553 2411 Monroe St. Hollywood, Florida http://www.pnc.com.au/~cafmr/hammell/index.html) ****************************************** Donations Needed- Am One Person Working Alone International Advocates for Health Freedom John C. Hammell, Legislative Advocate 2411 Monroe St.#2 Hollywood, FL 33020 USA 800-333-2553, 954-929-2905, FAX 954-929-0507, FAX ON DEMAND 954-927-8795,jham@concentric.net http://www.pnc.com.au/~cafmr/hammell/index.html