AKA Press Conference 8/10/21

AMERICAN KRATOM ASSOCIATION SUBMITS OVER 50,000 COMMENTS TO THE FDA;

SUIT TO EXTEND THE PUBLIC COMMENT DEADLINE CONTINUES

WASHINGTON, D.C — August 10, 2021 — Yesterday, the American Kratom Association (AKA) submitted over 50,000 comments to the FDA from kratom supporters opposing an international ban on kratom. This unprecedented level of public outcry comes after the news broke that the FDA has asked the World Health Organization (WHO) to consider an international ban on kratom. The AKA led the effort to collect tens of thousands of comments, even with an artificially compressed schedule to that only allowed the public 17 days to prepare and submit comments.  

Earlier in the weekend, the AKA filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); HHS Secretary Becerra; the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA); and Acting FDA Commissioner Woodcock. The complaint sought to extend the deadline for the comment period to a later date in August in order to give citizens a reasonable amount of time to comment.

 After negotiations with the FDA and the U.S. Attorney’s office and the exposing of a clear kratom bias in the comment process, an extension of the deadline to August 24th is now being considered.

During a Press Briefing earlier today, Mac Haddow, Senior Fellow on Public Policy, commented, “We are encouraged that the FDA is now considering our request for an extension of the public comment time. With over 50,000 comments being gathered in less than two weeks, the outpouring of opposition to an international ban of kratom shows there is a tremendous amount of public interest in this issue.” Haddow also commented, “The AKA will not stop in our efforts to protect every consumer’s right to access safe kratom.”