Will the new Consumer Protection Act prevent harm to nutritional supplement users?

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dc.contributor.authorGabriels, Gary
dc.contributor.authorLambert, Mike
dc.contributor.authorSmith, Pete
dc.contributor.authorHiss, Donavon
dc.date.accessioned2016-10-05T15:15:36Z
dc.date.available2016-10-05T15:15:36Z
dc.date.issued2011
dc.description.abstractBACKGROUND. There is no clear distinction between the regulation of food, supplements and medicines in South Africa. Consequently, grey areas exist in implementing the legislation, particularly in the supplement industry. The increase in supplement sales in South Africa can be attributed to aggressive marketing by manufacturers whose claims are not always supported by published peer-reviewed evidence. Such claims often go unchecked, resulting in consumers being mislead about the role of supplements. As a result of poor regulation, contaminants or adulterants in supplements may also cause insidious effects unrelated to the listed ingredients. AIM. To assess the regulations, legislation, and claims associated with nutritional supplement products in South Africa. METHOD. Peer-reviewed literature and the relevant South African statutes were consulted. RESULTS. The National Health Act incorporates the Medicine Control Council, which is charged with ensuring the safety, quality and effectiveness of medicines, and related matters, including complementary/alternative medicines. The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport and Amendment Act provides for testing athletes for using banned substances, but currently does not concern itself with monitoring nutritional supplements for contaminants or adulterants that may cause a positive drug test, which has implications for sports participants and also the health of the general population. The implementation of the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 (CPA) could protect consumer rights if it is administered and resourced appropriately. CONCLUSION. The CPA should promote greater levels of policy development, regulatory enforcement, and consumer education of South Africa's supplement industry.en_US
dc.description.accreditationDHETen_US
dc.identifier.citationGabriels, G. et al (2011). Will the new Consumer Protection Act prevent harm to nutritional supplement users? South African Medical Journal, 101: 543-545en_US
dc.identifier.issn2078-5135
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10566/2436
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.privacy.showsubmitterFALSE
dc.publisherHealth & Medical Publishing Groupen_US
dc.rightsThe South African Journal Medical Journal is an Open Access Journal and provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.
dc.status.ispeerreviewedTRUE
dc.subjectConsumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 (CPA)en_US
dc.subjectSouth African Institute for drug-free sporten_US
dc.subjectSouth Africaen_US
dc.subjectNutritional supplementsen_US
dc.subjectNational Health Acten_US
dc.subjectMedicine Control Councilen_US
dc.titleWill the new Consumer Protection Act prevent harm to nutritional supplement users?en_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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