Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, who ensures the safety of dietary supplements before marketing?

The correct answer illustrates that dietary supplement manufacturers are responsible for ensuring the safety of their products before they reach the market. Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994, the burden of proof regarding the safety and efficacy of dietary supplements falls on the manufacturers rather than the FDA or other external organizations. This means that manufacturers must conduct their own testing and quality control processes to check for safety and label accuracy before selling their products.

This framework incentivizes manufacturers to adhere to good manufacturing practices, although the FDA has the authority to intervene if a product is deemed unsafe after it is on the market. However, the proactive role in safety checks prior to marketing lies primarily in the hands of the manufacturers themselves. This unique regulatory structure places a certain level of responsibility on the companies producing dietary supplements, potentially leading to variability in the standards and quality among different brands.