The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) extended its gratitude to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), FMI – The Food Industry Association and National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) for their strong support in CRN’s ongoing legal battle against the State of New York.
The four organizations filed an amicus brief in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, supporting CRN’s challenge to New York’s age-restriction law on muscle building and weight loss supplements.
CRN argues the law unlawfully targets protected commercial speech by using marketing and labeling as the “triggers” to determine which products are subject to sales restrictions. CRN asserts the law infringes upon the First Amendment by “burdening protected speech” and “failing to meet the heightened scrutiny standards that infringement of constitutional right requires.”
In the brief, the U.S. Chamber highlights the critical nature of the case for the broader business community. It emphasizes the statute’s “use of speech as a trigger” sets a dangerous precedent across numerous industries.
“We are grateful for the robust support in this critical legal challenge, and the backing of thew U.S. Chamber, CHPA, FMI and NACDS,” said Steve Mister, president and CEO of CRN. “The amicus brief articulates the fundamental issues at stake, not just for the dietary supplements industry, but for all businesses that rely on their right to communicate freely about their products.”
For more information, visit www.crnusa.org, www.uschamber.com, www.chpa.org, www.fmi.org, or www.nacds.org.
