On March 4, Rhode Island introduced Senate Bill 2774 (SB 2774) an age restriction bill on weight-loss and muscle-building dietary supplements. The bill would prohibit the sale of these products to minors and require age verification, restricted access and civil penalties for violations.
Other states that have introduced and/or passed similar bills include Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Texas, New Hampshire, Virginia, Maryland, Washington, Illinois, Michigan, Alaska and Hawaii.
SB 2774 was introduced by Rhode Island Senators Bridget Valverde (D), Pamela Lauria (D), Alana DiMario (D), Meghan Kallman (D) and Lammis Vargas (D).
According to the bill, retail establishments that sell over-the-counter diet pills or dietary supplements for weight loss or muscle building shall limit access to such products in a manner designed to prevent “unauthorized access to such products.” Retailers would be required to request valid identification if they cannot “reasonably determine the person is at least 18 years old.”
Affected products include ingredients such as creatine, green tea extract, raspberry ketone, Garcinia cambogia and green coffee bean extract. If the state determines that a violation has occurred, it may impose a civil penalty of not more than $1,000.
The Council for Responsible Nutrition criticized SB 2774, stating, “CRN opposes Rhode Island Senate Bill 2774, which would arbitrarily restrict access to a broad range of dietary supplements based on vague marketing categories like “weight loss” and “muscle building,” rather than science or safety. Dietary supplements are already regulated under a comprehensive federal framework, and state-by-state restrictions like this create a confusing patchwork that burdens retailers, limits consumer access, and undermines national standards. SB 2774 would also impose impractical requirements—such as locking up products and mandating age verification—that go far beyond what is required for comparable consumer health products.”
For more information, visit www.rilegislature.gov.
