From the November 2004 Idaho Observer:

Should vitamins and herbs be available by prescription only?

The overwhelming majority of people would be surprised that the question above was even asked. Then they would almost universally answer, "No."

But, while we preoccupy ourselves with phony elections and the likely expansion of war in the Middle East, the U.S. delegation of the "International Codex Alimentarius Commission" has been working for years to accomplish something truly sinister: The control of our access to vitamins, herbs and other dietary supplements.

If these delegates (most of whom work for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration) are successful, we will have to get prescriptions from licensed physicians to obtain vitamin C.

On the frontlines of this eventuality, which looms ever closer each day, is John Hammell of the International Advocates for Health Freedom. Hammell is networked with activists around the world who are aware of Codex and the desire of governments (at the urging of powerful pharmaceutical interests) to control our access to natural, health-enhancing products.

During the week of November 1-5, Dr. Barbara O. Schneeman was sent to represent the U.S. at a meeting of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses in Bonn, Germany. Dr. Schneeman is director at the Office of Nutritional Products, Labeling and Dietary Supplements Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, a branch of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The primary topic of discussion was the development of maximum upper-level limits for vitamins and minerals. Those upper limits will be set by a working group out of Australia though actual risk assessments have not been performed nor have safe upper limits been established scientifically. A draft resolution on proposals for the codification of scientific bases for health claims was also discussed.

Hammell sent Susan Harris of the Law Loft to the Bonn meeting and has himself attended several Codex Commission events. His passion for the topic is evidenced in some of his rather entertaining war stories.

The results of the Bonn meeting indicate that the FDA is getting ready to spring a Codex-like regulatory scheme on Americans. The threat is so imminent that an emergency meeting will be held at the American College for Advancement in Medicine conference scheduled for Nov. 19, 2004 in San Diego.

Hammell has been journaling the steady advance of Codex for many years. His work and links to international opposition of Codex can be found at www.iahf.com