AHPA expresses support for enforcement action taken against importer of drug-spiked products 

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) expressed support for recent enforcement actions taken against an importer unlawfully selling drug-spiked male sexual enhancement products misbranded as dietary supplements.  

The case was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) Office of Criminal Investigations and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul J. Nathanson is prosecuting the case. The importer faces up to three years in prison after he pleaded guilty to selling mislabeled products that contained sildenafil and/or tadalafil, the active ingredients in the prescription drugs Viagra and Cialis. His facility was searched in 2011 and 2013 and unlawful products were seized both times.

"AHPA applauds this enforcement of current dietary supplement laws," said AHPA President Michael McGuffin. "The criminals who knowingly sell drug-spike products masquerading as dietary supplements present a serious risk to the health of unwary consumers of these illegal products and damage the reputation of the regulated dietary supplement industry."

Dietary supplements sold in the U.S. are subject to a host of regulations enforced by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other federal agencies to ensure what is on the label is what is in the product. However, a few drug-spiked products are sometimes illegally marketed and sold as dietary supplements. These products are not dietary supplements and those who knowingly manufacture, market and sell these illegal products are operating outside the law. 

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) and the regulated supplement industry support full enforcement of current laws to remove illegal products from the marketplace. The federal government and supplement industry work to raise awareness about drug-spiked products masquerading as supplements to help protect consumers. For example, AHPA alerts consumers to illegal products masquerading as dietary supplements through its website KeepSupplementsClean.org.