Effective April 22, 2024, New York General Business Law Section 391-oo prohibits the sale of specific weight loss and muscle-building dietary supplements to New York consumers under the age of 18. This law applies to retail stores located in New York, as well as online retailers selling dietary supplements to consumers in New York, and requires these retailers to verify a consumer’s age at the time of purchase. In addition, the law requires that online retailers shipping dietary supplements to customers in New York use methods of shipping which require a person 18 years of age or older to sign for the package and provide proof of age to the mail carrier.

The law applies to dietary supplement products intended for muscle building or weight loss and “over-the-counter” diet pills. The law does not apply to foods (i.e., products labeled with a Nutrition Facts panel).

The law applies to physical retail stores located in New York, such as grocery stores and specialty retailers, as well as online retailers. All retail establishments, regardless of whether physical or online, will be required to conduct age verification prior to sale of any products subject to this law to ensure that consumers are 18 years of age or older.

Unfortunately, most shipping companies will only conduct age verification for those 21 years of age or older; therefore, upon receipt of your order, you will need to present a valid ID evidencing that you are over 21 years of age.

Unfortunately, the shipping carrier will not be able to deliver the order unless an adult is present to sign for delivery. Depending on the shipping carrier, an additional attempt may be made to deliver you order. Please consult directly with the shipping company on making arrangements for your delivery, including regarding whether they will make an additional attempt to deliver your order if you are not home initially.