Dietary supplement, personal care and other companies faced with potential civil penalties under the US Federal Trade Commission’s penalty offense authority have a strong defense on both statutory and Constitutional grounds, says John Villafranco, partner at Kelley Drye & Warren LLP.
Companies Targeted By FTC Using Penalty Offense Authority Have Strong Defense, Attorney Says
John Villafranco, partner at Kelly Drye & Warren LLP, says the US FTC’s ability to obtain monetary relief using the penalty offense mechanism is questionable both on statutory and Constitutional grounds. Marketers faced with civil penalties – for example, for alleged inadequately substantiated health claims – should stand their ground, he suggests in a recent interview.

More from Marketing & Advertising
Vitawell seeking to empower consumers left confused by the vast array of dietary supplements available to them in the UK.
National Advertising Division finds Magni Group didn’t support claims made on MagniLife Gel packaging, in direct-mail advertisements and online and in social media “Rapid Pain Relief.”
Australia's SFI Health looking to take Equazen omega-3 fatty acids supplement to new markets to capitalize on Europe's fast-growing brain health segment.
With its new CanesMeno range, Bayer Consumer Health wants to help the estimated 13m women in the UK who are currently perimenopausal or menopausal.
More from Business
Chinese consumers are now routinely taking supplements for a variety of health reasons, helping to drive up sales of the Swisse Plus+ brand by 20% in 2024.
Growing use of GLP-1 receptor agonists is having a positive knock-on effect on the dietary supplements market, reports OptiBiotix Health, marketer of the SlimBiome weight management prebiotic.
By taking a majority stake in dynamic dietary supplements firm Braineffect, Germany's Schwabe can reach a new, younger target audience for its OTC herbal medicines.