New York Supplements Ban Takes Effect, Retailers Respond – Vitamin Retailer Magazine

On Apr. 22, 2024, New York State’s ban on weight-loss and muscle building supplements took effect.

The law, which was signed by New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Oct. 25, 2023, prohibits retailers from selling dietary supplements marketed for “weight loss” or “muscle building” to anyone under 18 years old. On Dec. 5, 2023, the Natural Productions Association (NPA) filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York saying the ban was “unconstitutional.”

On March 13, the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) filed a lawsuit challenging the ban.

Vitamin Retailer reached out to several independent retailers based in New York, who either didn’t know the ban was in effect or said that it didn’t affect their sales. However, according to Ricky Nieves, general manager at Westerly Natural Market (New York, NY), there is now signage in the store notifying customers about the law.

When ringing up sales of the affected items at the checkout, the computer system prompts the Westerly staff to ask for ID; the store’s upper management determined which products came under the new ban. The store also placed weight-loss, muscle building and other products affected by the law in the front of the store to keep them in sight.

The store has adapted to the new regulations easily, according to  Nieves. “Staff members had already been asking for ID when selling CBD products for several years,” he explained.