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 The group, led by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller, also asked Congress to
consider giving the U.S. Food and Drug Administration more oversight
of herbal supplements.
"We believe the safety and efficacy of these supplements is a matter
of deep public concern across the country," the attorneys general
said in the letter, urging "swift action."
In February, four major retailers, GNC Holdings Inc, Target Corp,
Walgreens and Wal Mart Stores Inc, halted sales of certain
supplements after being subpoenaed by the New York attorney general.
DNA tests had failed to detect plant materials listed on the
majority of products tested.
On Monday, GNC reached an agreement with Schneiderman to adopt more
stringent testing standards than the FDA requires, and began to
resell the supplements.
A study found the products were within FDA guidelines, Schneiderman
said. GNC said tests also showed its products were safe, pure,
properly labeled and in full compliance.
The attorneys general sent their letter requesting a probe to Kansas
Senator Jerry Moran and Pennsylvania Representative Joe Pitts,
chairmen of subcommittees on product safety and health. They cited
the New York probe and said researchers also have found other
problems, including high levels of lead, mercury and arsenic in
certain supplements.
The letter was signed by attorneys general from Connecticut,
District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky,
Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New York, Northern
Mariana Islands, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.
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The attorneys general asked the subcommittees to work with the FDA
to see whether the agency should develop enhanced quality assurance
programs and other safety requirements. Currently, the FDA regulates
dietary supplements under a different set of rules than those
covering drug products.
Steve Mister, president of the Council for Responsible Nutrition, an
industry group, said the New York attorney general's investigation
was discredited and concerns about "alleged widespread safety issues
are not true."
He said "the industry is already amply regulated on a federal
level."
(This version of the story corrects paragraph two to say that Greg
Zoeller is Indiana attorney general, not Illinois)
(Reporting By Karen Freifeld; Editing by David Gregorio)
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