STATES ARE ADOPTING INDUSTRY STANDARDS FOR
CONSUMPTION OF EPHEDRA DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS

Nebraska Joins Four States in Supporting Standards
Proven Safe and Effective for Ephedra

Washington, DC (April 23, 2001) � This week, Nebraska joined Ohio, Washington, Michigan and Hawaii in adopting the industry standards for consumption of popular Ephedra dietary supplements, which are taken by millions of Americans as an aid to weight loss. The announcement underscores the opinions of medical and scientific experts who continue to find Ephedra dietary supplements safe and effective when marketed and consumed according to the industry standards. As a state that made Ephedra available by prescription-only in 1996, Nebraska�s decision to adopt the standards at a total dose of 100mg per day at 25mg four times a day, confirms that Ephedra dietary supplements are indeed safe.

Industry has pushed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to adopt responsible regulations to guide the manufacture and distribution of these products. So far, the FDA has failed to respond. Most recently, a citizen�s petition was sent to FDA from the American Herbal Products Association, the Consumer Health Products Association, the National Nutritional Foods Association and the Utah Natural Products Alliance. As trade associations that represent the vast majority of manufacturers and distributors of Ephedra products, the groups are urging the agency to adopt the industry standards for Ephedra products.

The industry standards are supported by overwhelming scientific and medical evidence that continues to be developed regarding the safety and efficacy of Ephedra. Recent data from research conducted at the prestigious Harvard and Columbia Universities, and published last month in abstract form in the FASEB Journal and Obesity Research, has found that Ephedra dietary supplements are indeed safe and effective. In addition, the International Journal of Obesity published a double-blind trial performed by some of the same researchers on a similar dietary supplement containing Ephedra and Guarana, finding that it was effective in weight loss.

Ephedra, also known as Ma Huang, is an herb with a long history of safe and responsible use. Conservative estimates indicate that over three billion servings of Ephedra products are consumed each year as an aid to weight loss and improved health.

The Ephedra Education Council is supported primarily by members of the Ephedra Committee of the American Herbal Products Association, a recognized leader in promoting the safe and responsible marketing of dietary supplements. The Council provides factual information to the media and public about dietary supplements containing Ephedra. For more information, logon to www.EphedraFacts.com.

###