Legal/Regulatory Briefs

Nutrition for Life International Inc. (NFLI) said a final judgment in federal court approved settlement agreements that resolve class-action lawsuits filed against it in 1996, clearing the way for distribution of payments. The company did not admit wrongdoing and does not expect to incur expenses related to the lawsuit beyond the $6.4 million charge it took in its 1Q97 ended Dec. 31, 1996, with its related income tax benefit of $2.2 million. NFLI declared a quarterly cash dividend of $.02/share payable Oct.10 to shareholders-of-record as of Sept. 30.

The Nutritional Health Alliance filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s poison prevention regulations requiring unit-dose packaging for dietary supplements and drugs containing 30 mg or more of iron per dose. NHA President Gerald Kessler calls the lawsuit a test case against unit-dose packaging for all dietary supplements.

The North American Ginseng Association held its first conference, “Ginseng Day 1997,” at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, in late September, to educate attendees on various aspects of the herb. Formed to preserve, propagate and promote North American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), the association hopes to create The American Ginseng Network on a web site to further communications and resources among growers, traders and others. Membership is open to all. Contact 607.326.3234 or e-mail ginseng@catskill.net for more information.