WASHINGTON – The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) is applauding legislators in New York for recognizing that Senate Bill 16-D and Assembly Bill 431-B would have negatively impacted consumers and the local economy. If enacted, the proposals would have restricted access to two broad categories of dietary supplements and functional food – sports nutrition and weight management products.

The New York state Senate passed the bill on June 7 and it moved on to the state Assembly, where lawmakers had until June 10 to vote and pass the bill. The legislature adjourned early the morning of June 11 without bringing the bill for discussion, effectively ending any prospect for passage in this legislative session.

“CRN thanks the state assembly for recognizing the damage this bill would do to consumers and retailers,” said Julia Gustafson, vice president, government relations, CRN. “This proposal would have needlessly restricted access to safe and beneficial products that may help consumers meet their fitness and weight goals without any scientific or legal basis to do so. Simultaneously, the bill would also place unreasonable compliance and economic burdens on retailers that may dissuade them from selling these products/ingredients at all.”

Additionally, the bill would have created a broad category of affected supplements based simply on ingredients, not the intended use by the manufacturer. If enacted, the bill could have created a system where even a multivitamin or a supplement intended for cognitive function or pre-natal health would be subject to different access requirements if it contains a certain, legitimate ingredient like green tea extract or choline.

CRN respectfully opposed Senate Bill 16-D and Assembly Bill 431-B since introduction. The association has conferred with the sponsors and stakeholders, engaged in grassroots activities, dialogued with local retailers in New York, conducted bipartisan outreach to state legislators, and worked with on-the ground lobbyists to broadly communicate CRN’s concerns with the bill.

“CRN will continue to engage the proponents in New York and watch for similar legislation that is introduced year after year in other states, including Massachusetts and California,” said Gustafson. “The New York bill offers no reasonable solution to the problem the sponsors of the bill are seeking to solve. CRN remains committed to working with stakeholders across states to address legitimate concerns relating to eating disorders and nutrition deficiencies they cause, but these proposals, and others like it, are not the solution.”