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H 2530

An Act protecting children from harmful diet pills and muscle-building supplements

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by James Arena-DeRosa and 6 co-sponsors

Prohibits sale of OTC diet pills and weight-loss/muscle-building supplements to anyone under 18, with age-verification for retail and delivery, plus penalties.

Accompanied H2440
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 2530

Summary: H.2530 An Act protecting children from harmful diet pills and muscle-building supplements

Overview

H.2530, titled “An Act protecting children from harmful diet pills and muscle-building supplements,” is a Massachusetts Public Health bill introduced February 27, 2025. It adds new provisions to Chapter 111 to regulate the sale of over-the-counter diet pills and dietary supplements marketed for weight loss or muscle building, with a focus on preventing access by minors. The bill is accompanied by House Bill 2440 (HD 716) and has a companion status in that regard.

Purpose and intent

  • Reduce under-18 exposure to and acquisition of OTC diet pills and supplements marketed for weight loss or muscle building.
  • Establish age-verification and access-control requirements for both retail and delivery sales.
  • Provide enforcement mechanisms and penalties to deter noncompliance.

Key provisions

(a) Definitions

  • “Dietary supplement for weight loss or muscle building”: a dietary supplement labeled or marketed for weight loss or muscle gain (per 21 U.S.C. 321(ff)).
  • “Over-the-counter diet pill”: a drug labeled for weight loss that does not require a prescription under current federal law (per 21 U.S.C. 321(g)(1)).
  • “Retail establishment”: any vendor selling such products to the public (pharmacies, grocery stores, online/remote retailers, etc.).
  • “Delivery sale”: sale initiated remotely (phone, internet, mail) or delivered by carrier, where purchase and/or possession occurs without physical presence of the buyer.
  • “Delivery Seller”: a person or online retailer delivering these products to consumers.

(b) Prohibitions

  • No person may sell or offer to sell or give away, as a retail or wholesale promotion, an OTC diet pill or weight-loss/muscle-building supplement to anyone under 18.

(c) Responsibilities of retail establishments

  • Limit access so products are not directly accessible to customers; access limited to employees (e.g., behind-the-counter or locked case).
  • Require valid identification to verify age when purchase cannot be reasonably determined to involve an individual under 18.

(d) Responsibilities of delivery sellers

  • Prohibit sale/delivery to anyone under 18.
  • Use delivery verification that requires an 18+ signer at delivery; signer must present government-issued photo ID proving 18+.
  • Collect full name, birth date, and residential address for delivery orders and verify via a commercially available, government-sourced identity/age database.
  • The seller may not control or alter the verification databases used.

(e) Remedies

  • AG may seek injunctions in court to stop violations, with notice to defendants.
  • Courts may impose civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation.

(f) Considerations for labeling/representation

  • The AG will assess factors such as whether the product contains FDA-approved ingredients, steroids, or common supplement ingredients (e.g., creatine, green tea extract, raspberry ketone, garcinia cambogia, green coffee, etc.) when determining if a product is “for weight loss or muscle building.”

Enforcement and timeline

  • Referred to the Public Health Committee on February 27, 2025.
  • Hearing scheduled for June 11, 2025.
  • Reporting date extended to October 9, 2025 (updated timeline).
  • Accompanied by H2440 (Executive/House companion) as of October 16, 2025.
  • Related bill: HD 716 (replaces the measure).

Impact and who is affected

  • Retail establishments (pharmacies, grocery stores, and other vendors) must alter display/access controls and implement ID checks.
  • Delivery sellers and online retailers must implement age-verification processes, obtain signer ID at delivery, and use age/identity databases.
  • Consumers under 18 would face reduced access to OTC diet pills and weight-loss/muscle-building supplements.
  • Enforcement rests with the Massachusetts Attorney General, with potential civil penalties for violations.

This summary captures the bill’s core structure, prohibitions, obligations on retailers and delivery sellers, enforcement provisions, and the legislative timeline as currently available.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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