I haven't read all the official act yet so don't know specifically how every aspect will be affected but I believe that it is aimed at removing some of the risks to our health rather than increasing them.
Many of the herbal remedies, dietary supplements, etc. are drugs, pure and simple.
Literally pure and simple in many cases; eg., take the plant, dry it, grind it, mix it with binders and press it into a pill form.
A lot of people equate "natural" with "harmless" and don't even think to mention them when their doctors ask, before prescribing, what other medications they're taking. This can have dire results, not to mention the possible interactions between the supplements they take without adding prescriptions into the mix.
Many, probably most, companies are responsible, doing their best in both quality control and education, but not all are. I've always felt some level of regulation was needed.
Sorry this isn't an international opinion :)
eta; My opinion is probably coloured by having a doctor who has no problem referring to chiropractors, etc. (When I asked him about an OTC product he had a look at the ingredients and said "I'm not sure why this would work, but there's nothing in it that'll hurt you, so it works for you, go for it.") If I had more experience with the narrower view I may feel a little differently :)
Message edited by author 2008-06-14 15:38:42. |
