June 28, 2005
You have heard about the international rulemaking process known as Codex Alimentarius, or “Food Code” through previous Action Alerts. This July, commissioners from all over the world will meet in Rome to decide upon a set of guidelines for the international trade of vitamins, minerals, and herbs.
Support world health. Support access to dietary supplements and herbs. http://www.healthactioncenter.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=26659
Codex’s guidelines evaluate nutrients using the same model as that for like toxic chemicals and, unlike U.S. law, recommend upper potency limits. The upper safe limits model is based on norms and population groups instead of biochemical individuality, and attempts to set one value for all individuals rather than seeking an optimum nutrient intake level for each individual.
Such guidelines might be good for pharmaceutical companies seeking to eliminate a safe, cheap source of competition, but not to the natural health consumer. We need to make sure that this rulemaking process benefits citizens’ health and expands health choice-not just corporate profits.
TAKE ACTION!
Promote health choice worldwide. Tell the U.S. Codex delegation and Congress to make our law, the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) the international standard for dietary supplement trade.
Any change in U.S. law requires an act of Congress. However, if flawed Codex guidelines are accepted internationally, we will likely face pressure from opponents of health choice here in the U.S. to conform to them.
Send a letter today to postpone acceptance of the Codex guidelines until the following issues are revisited: the role of dietary supplements in optimal health, worldwide hunger and nutrition, and the appropriate science for nutrients.
Take action today to support DSHEA as the international standard for the dietary supplement trade.
The U.S. Congress passed DSHEA by unanimous consent with the support of millions of Americans in order to protect our health choice. DSHEA is a safe and sound model that works. The U.S. Codex delegation has a consumer and Congressional mandate to acknowledge and defend the basic principles of DSHEA and should labor to ensure that no trade-related barriers are erected between us and safe, innovative, and effective dietary supplements.
It is critical that you send your letter today. The commissions will be meeting on July 4th-make sure your voice is heard before then!
Send your letter today, and be sure to tell your friends about this important issue!
http://www.healthactioncenter.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=26659
Thank you again,
Jim Turner, general counsel to the Weston A. Price Foundation
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