Although the Rhode Island State Senate on June 7 approved an amended version of S. 2613, which prohibits the sale of certain dietary supplements to youths under the age of 18, the legislation has failed to move forward in the state’s House of Representatives. The state legislature adjourned on June 30 and the bill must now be reintroduced next year and voted on again.

The bill would have required brick and mortar retailers to post a warning sign at each purchase counter communicating that dietary supplements are known to cause serious adverse events, including stroke, organ failure and even death. Failure to comply with this legislation would result in a fine of up to $2,000 for each infraction. The bill did not regulate internet sales of dietary supplements in Rhode Island.

Introduced by Senators McCaffrey, Gallo and Miller, the legislation stated that “Dietary supplements, set forth in subsection (a) of this section or dietary supplements for weight loss, may only be purchased upon a request made by a customer to the seller. The seller shall request valid identification from any individual who attempts to purchase a dietary supplement set forth in subsection (a) if that individual reasonably appears to the seller to be under 18 years of age.” Subsection (a) referred to a dietary supplement containing an ephedrine group alkaloid or a dietary supplement containing androstanedoil, androstanedione, androstenedione, noradrostendediol, norandrostenedione, or dehydropiandrosterone. The bill passed in the Senate by a vote of 33 to four.

For more information, visit webserver.rilin.state.ri.us.