Labor/HHS

Office of Dietary Supplements urged to "continue and expand" research initiative on ephedra safety and efficacy under Senate appropriations bill passed Oct. 11. ODS, NCCAM have commissioned an AHRQ study on ephedra, which could be released as early as August 2002 (1"The Tan Sheet" Aug. 13, p. 10). Appropriations bill also urges ODS to "allocate sufficient funds to expand the number of botanical research centers," with hypericum, echinacea suggested subjects of study. Bill would allocate NCCAM $110 mil. for FY 2002 (2"The Tan Sheet" Oct. 15, In Brief)