557 F.

2d 325

The NATIONAL NUTRITIONAL FOODS ASSOCIATION

and Solgar, Co.,
Inc., Plaintiffs-Appellants,
v.
F. David MATHEWS, Secretary of Health, Education and
Welfare
and Alexander M. Schmidt, Commissioner of Food and
Drugs, Defendants-Appellees.
No. 561, Docket 76-6135.

United States Court of Appeals,

Second Circuit.
Argued March 25, 1977.
Decided June 7, 1977.

Milton A. Bass, New York City (Bass, Ullman & Lustigman and Jacob
Laufer, New York City, on the brief), for plaintiffs-appellants.
Naomi Reice Buchwald, Asst. U. S. Atty., S. D. N. Y., New York City
(Robert B. Fiske, Jr., U. S. Atty., Samuel J. Wilson, Asst. U. S. Atty., S.
D. N. Y., New York City, and Stephen H. McNamara, Office of Gen.
Counsel, Dept. of Health, Education and Welfare, Washington, D. C., on
the brief), for defendants-appellees.
Before ANDERSON and MESKILL, Circuit Judges, and MARKEY,
Chief Judge, U. S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals.*
Robert P. ANDERSON, Circuit Judge:

Plaintiffs-appellants, producers and vendors of vitamin preparations, appeal the

dismissal of their action seeking declaratory and injunctive relief against
regulations promulgated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which
classified preparations of Vitamins A and D in excess of 10,000 IU
(international units) per dosage unit and 400 IU per dosage unit, respectively, as
"drugs" under 201(g)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 21

U.S.C. 321(g)(1), and which restricted them to prescription sale under

503(b)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. 353(b)(1). 21 C.F.R. 250.109 and 250.110
(1976) (originally promulgated as parts 3.94 and 3.95). The district court
upheld the regulations as not "arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion or
otherwise not in accordance with law" under the standard of review prescribed
by 5 U.S.C. 706(2)(A). National Nutritional Foods Ass'n v. Mathews, 418
F.Supp. 394 (S.D.N.Y.1976).
2

This is the third time that this case has been on appeal in this court. We
affirmed the district court's denial of preliminary injunctive relief in National
Nutritional Foods Association v. Weinberger, 491 F.2d 845 (2d Cir. 1973), aff'g
366 F.Supp. 1341 (S.D.N.Y.1973). The regulations sought to be declared
invalid, therefore, have been in effect since October 1, 1973. On the second
appeal, the district court had dismissed the complaint finding that the
regulations satisfied the "arbitrary or capricious" standard of review. National
Nutritional Foods Association v. Weinberger, 376 F.Supp. 142 (S.D.N.Y.1974),
remanded, 512 F.2d 688 (2d Cir.), cert. denied sub nom., National Nutritional
Foods Association v. Mathews, 423 U.S. 827, 96 S.Ct. 44, 46 L.Ed.2d 44
(1975). On remand the district court was instructed to:

3 . . conduct an Overton-type hearing (including such affidavits or testimony as to

".
the Commissioner's reasoning as the court deems necessary) for the purpose of
determining whether, upon the entire administrative record before the
Commissioner, which the court should scrutinize, Silva v. Lynn, 482 F.2d 1282 (1st
Cir. 1973), the Commissioner acted rationally in classifying the higher dosage levels
as a 'drug' within the meaning of 201(g) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. 321(g)." 512 F.2d
at 703.
4

On this appeal from the district court's dismissal following remand, plaintiffs
contend that the district court did not comply with this court's mandate on
remand, and that it erred in upholding the classification of the regulated levels
of Vitamins A and D, as drugs.

Acting under the rule-making power vested in the Secretary of Health,

Education and Welfare, 701(a) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. 371(a), and delegated
to the Commissioner of Food and Drugs (Commissioner), 21 C.F.R. 2.120(a)
(1), the latter, on December 14, 1972, announced his proposal to adopt
regulations restricting the sale of Vitamins A and D in dosages exceeding
10,000 IU and 400 IU, respectively, to prescription sales. 37 Fed.Reg. 26618.
Employing the notice-and-comment procedure of the Administrative Procedure
Act, 5 U.S.C. 553(c), the Commissioner solicited comments from interested
persons concerning the proposed regulations. Over 2,500 written comments

were received. On August 2, 1973, the Commissioner summarized the

comments, answered the criticisms of the proposed regulations, and, upon
determining that the regulations were in the public interest and should be
adopted, ordered that they become effective on October 1, 1973.1 38 Fed.Reg.
20723.
6

During the period when the proposed Vitamins A and D regulations were under
consideration by the FDA, formal administrative hearings were held on
proposed labeling statements and standards of identity for "Food for Special
Dietary Uses." These regulations, covering the vast array of vitamin and
mineral preparations, were adopted as parts 80 and 125 of 21 C.F.R. on August
2, 1973, 38 Fed.Reg. 20708-18, 20730-40, to become effective January 1, 1975.
As part of the FDA's regulatory scheme for the sale of vitamin and mineral
dietary supplements, the Commissioner promulgated new U.S. Recommended
Daily Allowances for the vitamins and minerals considered essential to human
nutrition and for which there was available scientific evidence to show the level
of ingestion nutritionally necessary. 21 C.F.R. 80.1(f)(1). The U. S. RDA
upper limits for Vitamin A is 2,500 IU for children under four years of age,
5,000 IU for adults, and 8,000 IU for pregnant and lactating women. The upper
limit for Vitamin D is 400 IU for all age groups. As part of the general Dietary
Supplement regulations, the FDA determined that all preparations containing
more than the upper limit of the U. S. RDA per serving for any vitamin or
mineral on the list is a "drug," 21 C.F.R. 125.1(h),2 thus subjecting such
products to the rigorous provisions of subchapter V of the Act. When the
Commissioner promulgated the specific Vitamins A and D regulations,
therefore, the levels restricted to prescription sale under these regulations were
already denominated "drugs" under the general Dietary Supplement
regulations.

In National Nutritional Foods Association v. Food & Drug Administration, 504

F.2d 761 (2d Cir. 1974), cert. denied, 420 U.S. 946, 95 S.Ct. 1326, 43 L.Ed.2d
424 (1975), this court, on a petition to review the general dietary supplement
regulations under 701(f) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. 371(f), determined that the
evidence supporting 21 C.F.R. 125.1(h), classifying as "drugs" all vitamin
and mineral preparations containing dosages in excess of the U. S. RDA's
upper limits, was insufficient to bring such preparations within the statutory
definition of "drug" in 201(g) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. 321(g). Id. at 788-89.
Prior to this ruling, the district court in this separate review proceeding of the
Vitamins A and D regulations had concluded that the regulations were valid.
National Nutritional Foods Association v. Weinberger, supra, 376 F.Supp. at
149. In so doing, the district court reaffirmed its finding on denial of
preliminary injunctive relief that high-potency Vitamins A and D products

were "squarely within" the statutory definition of "drugs." National Nutritional

Foods Association v. Weinberger, supra, 366 F.Supp. at 1346.
8

This court's decision to remand this case for an Overton-type hearing was
brought about by intervening invalidation of the 21 C.F.R. 125.1(h) "drug"
classification of preparations in excess of the U. S. RDA in National Nutritional
Foods Ass'n v. FDA, supra (504 F.2d 761), the failure of the Commissioner
fully to state the rationale supporting the classification of Vitamins A and D at
the regulated levels as "drugs," and the incomplete nature of the administrative
record provided in support of the regulations. National Nutritional Foods Ass'n
v. Weinberger, supra, 512 F.2d at 701-03. The only substantive issue for the
district court to resolve on remand of the present case was whether the
Commissioner's classification of high-potency Vitamins A and D preparations
was in accordance with the statutory definition of a "drug" and whether the
record established that the classification was not arbitrary or capricious and was
in accordance with law.

This court directed the district court to "scrutinize" the entire administrative
record, and to give the Commissioner, either through affidavit or testimony, "as
the court deems necessary," an opportunity to present his complete reasoning
underlying the drug classification. On remand, plaintiffs argued that the
Commissioner should be subject to deposition and called as a witness to testify
on the matter. Plaintiffs also pressed for full disclosure of all documents,
including the early drafts and intra-agency memoranda, relating to the proposal
and adoption of the regulations. The district court denied plaintiff's requests.
The Government submitted the Commissioner's affidavit explaining his best
recollection of his reasons for classifying high-potency quantities of Vitamins
A and D, as drugs. After deletion of certain references to material, not part of
the record, a revised affidavit was submitted which the district court accepted
as the complete statement of reasons, the lack of which had necessitated the
remand. The only other addition to the record was a collection of miscellaneous
letters and documents relating to the regulations that were either inadvertently
omitted or were considered by the FDA not to be part of the record, because
they either postdated the final promulgation or antedated the original proposal
of the regulations. The Government represented to the district court that this
was the entire administrative record. A group of intra-agency communications
and drafts of the regulations was not made part of the record after the district
court examined the documents in camera and ruled that they were exempt from
disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act exception for intra-agency
memoranda, 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(5), and that, in any event, plaintiffs had not
shown sufficient justification to overcome the agency's claim of privilege. 3

10

As the district court noted, a remand to conduct an Overton -type hearing is not
an open invitation to probe the mental processes of the Commissioner. In
Citizens to Preserve Overton Park v. Volpe, 401 U.S. 402, 91 S.Ct. 814, 28
L.Ed.2d 136 (1971), the Supreme Court was presented with an agency action
made on an administrative record that had not been produced in the review
proceedings in the district court. In remanding the case to the district court for
"plenary review" of the Secretary of Transportation's decision "based on the full
administrative record that was before him when he made his decision," the
Court directed that, if the record did not disclose the rationale underlying the
agency action or the factors that were considered in the decision, the district
court might find it necessary to require some explanation from the Secretary.
Id. at 420, 91 S.Ct. at 825. The Court went on to indicate that such further
explanation might take the form of testimony by the administrative officials but
warned that such probing of the administrators' mental processes was usually to
be avoided and noted that when contemporaneous administrative findings were
made, "There must be a strong showing of bad faith or improper behavior
before such inquiry may be made." Id., citing United States v. Morgan, 313
U.S. 409, 422, 61 S.Ct. 999, 85 L.Ed. 1429 (1941). In Camp v. Pitts, 411 U.S.
138, 93 S.Ct. 1241, 36 L.Ed.2d 106 (1973), the Court, in explaining the scope
of an Overton -type hearing, stated that further explanation of administrative
action by the officials involved in the decision could be by affidavit and is
appropriate only when the explanation in the record is so deficient as to
frustrate effective judicial review. Id. at 142-43, 93 S.Ct. 1241.

11

In remanding to the district court for the addition to the record of the relevant
details of the Commission's basis for classifying high-potency Vitamins A and
D preparations as drugs, this court left the form that such further explanation
should take, to the sound discretion of the trial court. National Nutritional
Foods Ass'n v. Weinberger, supra, 512 F.2d at 703.

12

When the Commissioner adopted the Vitamins A and D regulations, he

concluded that the available evidence showed that the U. S. RDA upper limits
were adequate for all known nutritional needs; and, in view of the fact that
there was no evidence to establish a food value or nutritional use for Vitamins
A and D at higher levels, the ingestion of these vitamins at the regulated levels
is "appropriate only for therapeutic uses and thus are properly classed as
drugs." 38 Fed.Reg. 2073 (Aug. 2, 1973). The Commissioner based the drug
classification for all vitamin and mineral preparations in excess of the U. S.
RDA contained in 21 C.F.R. 125.1(h) solely upon lack of nutritional
usefulness for most people. This court, however, held in the course of
invalidating the general drug classification in 125.1(h), that "demonstrated
uselessness as a food for most people" is an insufficient basis upon which to

establish a drug classification under 201(g)(1)(B) of the Act, 21 U.S.C.

321(g)(1)(B). National Nutritional Foods Ass'n v. FDA, supra, 504 F.2d at
789.4
13

Plaintiffs argued on the appeal of the district court's first dismissal of this case
that the Vitamin A and D regulations were based upon the reasoning
invalidated in National Nutritional Foods Ass'n v. FDA, supra (504 F.2d 761),
and thus, a fortiori, were not promulgated in accordance with law. In proposing
the Vitamin A and D regulations, however, the Commissioner indicated that an
additional basis for the drug classification was the widespread promotion of the
products for therapeutic uses. The Commissioner did not fully develop this
rationale at the time of the promulgation of the regulations, and this court,
therefore, was not in a position to evaluate whether the evidence of promotion
for therapeutic uses was sufficient to render the drug classification not arbitrary
or capricious and in accordance with the statutory definition of a drug. The
Commissioner's affidavit, filed upon remand, explained the ambiguous
reference to widespread therapeutic promotion and indicated the materials in
the administrative record relied upon by the Commissioner to support his
reasoning in this regard. In view of the fact that the Commissioner's affidavit
supplied the supplementation of the record that was necessary for effective
judicial review, the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying
plaintiffs' motion to take the Commissioner's deposition and to have him called
as a witness. As above stated, requiring Administrative officials to testify in a
judicial review proceeding is usually to be avoided. United States v. Morgan,
supra, 313 U.S. at 422, 61 S.Ct. 999; Bank of Commerce of Laredo v. City
National Bank of Laredo, 484 F.2d 284, 287-88 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 416
U.S. 905, 94 S.Ct. 1609, 40 L.Ed.2d 109 (1974); cf., National Nutritional Foods
Ass'n v. FDA, 491 F.2d 1141, 1144-45 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 419 U.S. 874, 95
S.Ct. 135, 42 L.Ed.2d 113 (1974).

14

Moreover, we cannot say, after our own review of the memoranda, that the
district court abused its discretion or otherwise committed error in refusing to
compel the FDA to disclose the deliberative intra-agency memoranda which
preceded the formal proposal of the Vitamins A and D regulations. The district
court reviewed these documents in camera and determined that they were
within the scope of the Government's deliberative privilege and not subject to
disclosure under the circumstances of this case. We are satisfied that it is
unnecessary further to discuss the plaintiffs' general contentions here,
concerning the scope of this privilege and the relevance of intra-agency
memoranda in administrative review cases, which are to be reviewed on a
formal administrative record, particularly in view of the disposition of this case,
infra. In the course of these proceedings the Commissioner has waived any

reliance, even if he could attempt so to rely, upon any supportive reasoning or

factual material contained in these pre-proposal, intra-agency memoranda. We
conclude that, under the standard enunciated by the Supreme Court in Citizens
to Preserve Overton Park v. Volpe, supra, the record in the case, as
supplemented by the Commissioner's affidavit furnished on remand,
sufficiently discloses the rationale underlying the administrative body's action
and the factors considered in its decision. Its error lay in determining that
dosage units of more than 10,000 IU of Vitamin A and 400 IU of Vitamin D
are, on the facts of this case, properly classified as drugs under 201(g) of the
Act (21 U.S.C. 321(g)). Consequently the FDA's holding in this case was
arbitrary and capricious and not in accordance with law.
15

When this case was previously remanded by us to the district court, we said, ". .
. a serious question is raised as to whether the Commissioner, in concluding that
the higher level dosage forms of Vitamins A and D are 'drugs', acted 'in
accordance with law.' " 512 F.2d at 701. The relevant portions of 201(g) of
the Act, 21 U.S.C. 321(g), define a drug as:

16
"(g)(1)
the term 'drug' means (A) articles recognized in the official United States
Pharmacopoeia, official Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States, or
official National Formulary, or any supplement to any of them; and (B) articles
intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease
in man or other animals . . . ."
17

In the statement announcing the proposal of the Vitamins A and D regulations

and in the one accompanying their adoption, the Commissioner did not rely
upon the recognition of these preparations in the above named publications as
the basis of the drug classification. Rather, the Commissioner determined that
the circumstances surrounding the use of Vitamins A and D at the regulated
levels indicated an intended therapeutic use under 201(g)(1)(B), 21 U.S.C.
321(g) (1)(B). The vendors' intent in selling the product to the public is the key
element in this statutory definition. Rutherford v. United States, 542 F.2d 1137,
1140 (10th Cir. 1976); National Nutritional Foods Ass'n v. FDA, supra, 504
F.2d at 789; United States v. An Article . . . Consisting of 216 Cartoned Bottles
. . . "Sudden Change," 409 F.2d 734, 739 (2d Cir. 1969); United States v.
Hohensee, 243 F.2d 367, 370 (3rd Cir. 1956), cert. denied, 353 U.S. 976, 77
S.Ct. 1058, 1 L.Ed.2d 1136 (1957); Hanson v. United States, 417 F.Supp. 30,
34 (D.Minn.), aff'd, 540 F.2d 947 (8th Cir. 1976); United States v. 2 Cartons,
More or Less, No. 26 Formula GM, 132 F.Supp. 569, 573 (S.D.Cal.1952).

18

In determining whether an article is a "drug" because of an intended therapeutic

use, the FDA is not bound by the manufacturer's subjective claims of intent but

can find actual therapeutic intent on the basis of objective evidence. National
Nutritional Foods Ass'n v. FDA, supra, 504 F.2d at 789. Such intent also may
be derived or inferred from labeling, promotional material, advertising, and
"any other relevant source." See, e. g., United States v. An Article . . .
Consisting of 216 Cartoned Bottles . . . "Sudden Change," supra, 409 F.2d at
739; Hanson v. United States, supra, 417 F.Supp. at 35; United States v. 250
Jars, etc., of U. S. Fancy Pure Honey, 218 F.Supp. 208, 211 (E.D.Mich.1963),
aff'd, 344 F.2d 288 (6th Cir. 1965). In remanding this case, this court expressly
indicated that evidence that Vitamins A and D at the regulated levels were used
"almost exclusively for therapeutic purposes" when coupled with lack of a
recognized nutritional use, would be sufficient to show that high dosage
Vitamins A and D products were intended for use in the treatment of disease.
512 F.2d at 703.
19

In proposing the regulations, the Commissioner emphasized the potential for

toxicity and the widespread promotion of the intake of high doses of Vitamins
A and D to cure a variety of ills.5 To show objective therapeutic intent, the
Commissioner's affidavit submitted on remand relied upon three factors: (1)
widespread promotion to the public in the use of high potency Vitamins A and
D preparations for the treatment of various ailments; (2) lack of recognized
nutritional usefulness; and (3) potential for toxicity from the ingestion of large
doses of these vitamins over extended periods of time.

20

Potential for toxicity was cited in the statements of proposal and adoption of the
regulations as supporting the limitation of high-dosage Vitamins A and D
preparations to prescription sale in the interest of public safety. In his affidavit,
the Commissioner admitted that "(i)n promulgating these regulations, concern
over the public harm that could be done by these high potency therapeutic
preparations weighed more heavily upon my mind than any other single
factors."6 The Commissioner also indicated that evidence of toxicity was
further objective evidence of therapeutic intent because it was unreasonable to
believe that one could intend that a toxic product be used as a food.

21

Plaintiffs assert that toxicity is irrelevant to the issue of therapeutic intent and,
although the key element in determining that a drug should be limited to
prescription use under 503(b) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. 353(b), it has no bearing
upon whether an article is a drug. The Government argues, on the other hand,
that toxicity is relevant to therapeutic intent and that the Commissioner must
make the decision of whether there should be a regulation which classifies an
article as a food or as a drug, for the purposes of the Act. Although an article
may be recognized as a food, this does not preclude it from being regulated as a
drug. Rutherford v. United States, supra, 542 F.2d at 1140; Hanson v. United

States, supra, 417 F.Supp. at 35. The determination that an article is properly
regulated as a drug, however, is not left to the Commissioner's unbridled
discretion to act to protect the public health but must be in accordance with the
statutory definition.7 Toxicity is not included as an element in the statutory
definition of a drug. It is relevant as a factor supporting the Commissioner's
classification under 201(g)(1)(B), but only to the extent that it constitutes
objective evidence of therapeutic intent. Toxicity is cited by the Commissioner
as constituting objective evidence of "something more" than lack of nutritional
usefulness in an attempt to distinguish the general drug classification
invalidated in National Nutritional Foods Ass'n v. FDA, supra,504 F.2d at 789.
Such evidence, however, only presents a further indication that the excessive
intake of Vitamins A and D may not be nutritionally useful and does not
provide the objective evidence of therapeutic intent necessary to support these
regulations.
22

There is no evidence in the administrative record that the manufacturers and

vendors of Vitamins A and D preparations, at the regulated dosages, represent
through labeling, promotional materials, or advertising that these products are
effective in the cure or treatment of disease. They are sold as "dietary
supplements."

23

The district court dismissed the complaint on the ground that the record
evidence of lack of nutritional usefulness, when coupled with the evidence of
widespread promotion of high-dosage preparations of Vitamins A and D for
therapeutic purposes, established that the drug classification was not arbitrary
or capricious. The district court relied upon three sources for its determinations
that there was widespread promotion of these products for therapeutic
purposes: (1) the Commissioner's experience; 8 (2) the medical and popular
literature in the record advocating the therapeutic use of these vitamins; and (3)
the large number of comments to the proposed regulations which indicated a
desire to continue using Vitamins A and D for therapeutic purposes.9 None of
the promotions for therapeutic use in the record was attributed to the
manufacturers or vendors.

24

The main issue on this appeal is whether the evidence of the extensive use of
large doses of Vitamins A and D to treat or prevent diseases and the promotion
of such usage by persons not associated with the manufacturers or vendors
establishes such widespread therapeutic use at the regulated levels as to
overcome the plaintiffs' claim of the lack of an intended use to cure or prevent
disease and thus justifies the Commissioner's determination.

25

The Commissioner admits that below the stated levels of potency, Vitamins A

and D are foods. The evidence relied upon to show therapeutic intent, therefore,
must be related to the potency level chosen to differentiate between the use of
Vitamins A and D as foods and the use of these vitamins as drugs. The
administrative record clearly establishes that the factors involved in choosing
the levels at which Vitamins A and D become drugs were solely related to the
Commissioner's fear of potential toxic effect and his belief that the ingestion of
vitamins at levels above the U. S. RDA is not nutritionally useful. No further
record evidence has been produced on the remand to show that the 10,000 IU
and 400 IU levels were chosen because at those potencies, consumption of
them is almost exclusively for therapeutic purposes. A sampling of the
comments submitted to the FDA after publication of the proposed regulations
reveals that people believe that a wide range of doses of these vitamins are
therapeutically useful. A large group of individuals indicated that they ingested
these vitamins at various dosages solely to supplement their daily diet in the
belief that more Vitamins A and D were needed to maintain optimal health than
the upper limits in the U. S. RDA.
26

In remanding this case, this court suggested that proof in the record
demonstrating that, at the 10,000 IU and 400 IU levels, respectively, these
vitamins were taken "almost exclusively" for therapeutic purposes, would tend
to show that the regulations were not arbitrary or capricious. There was no
evidence, however, supporting the Commissioner's conclusion that, when sold
at the regulated, i. e. prescription, levels, therapeutic usage of these vitamins so
far outweighed their use as dietary supplements, it showed an objective intent
that these products were used in the mitigation and cure of diseases. This claim
furnished no contradiction to the charge that the FDA's regulations are arbitrary
and capricious and not in accordance with law.

27

Moreover, the potency level chosen for drug classification was based upon
factors that are not relevant to the statutory definition of a drug. Although the
Commissioner's application of the statutory provision is to be given great
weight, see NLRB v. Hearst Publications, 322 U.S. 111, 130-32, 64 S.Ct. 851,
88 L.Ed. 1170 (1944), the statutory provision at issue here strictly limits the
FDA's authority to regulate items as drugs to those that fall within the specific
provision of 201(g)(1)(B). The drug definition is to be given a liberal
interpretation in light of the remedial purposes of the legislation, see, United
States v. An Article of Drug . . . Bacto-Unidisk,394 U.S. 784, 792, 798, 89
S.Ct. 1410, 22 L.Ed.2d 726 (1968), but when an FDA determination that an
article is a "drug" is so directly in conflict with the statutory definition, it must
be invalidated as arbitrary and capricious and not in accordance with law. See,
National Nutritional Foods Ass'n v. FDA, supra, 504 F.2d at 789 n. 35.

28

The Commissioner also seeks to justify the Vitamins A and D regulations on

the basis of 201(g)(1)(A), 21 U.S.C. 321(g)(1)(A), which defines as drugs,
articles "recognized" in the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) or National
Formulary (NF). Both Vitamins A and D are included in the USP and NF. The
Eighteenth Revision of the USP, official from September 1, 1970, listed the
usual daily dosage of Vitamin A for prophylactic uses at 5,000 U.S.P. vitamin
A units10 and for therapeutic uses at 25,000 U.S.P. vitamin A units. For
Vitamin D, the respective daily dosages were 400 U.S.P. vitamin D units for
prophylactic uses and 1,200 U.S.P. vitamin D units for therapeutic uses. Olive
oil and salt are also included within the pages of these compendia. To construe
201(g)(1)(A) so as to grant the Commissioner the power to regulate as drugs
every item mentioned in the USP and NF solely on the basis of such inclusion
would give the FDA virtually unlimited discretion to regulate as drugs a vast
range of items. In National Nutritional Foods Ass'n v. FDA, supra (504 F.2d
761), the court concluded that a claim that a vitamin is a drug solely because of
a listing in the USP and NF "would prove too much, for it would lead to the
conclusion that all vitamin and mineral preparations even within the (U. S.
RDA) limits are drugs a position that would run counter to the regulations."
504 F.2d at 789. An administrator's decision under a regulatory statute, such as
the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, must be governed by an intelligible
statutory principle. See, National Cable Television Association v. United States,
415 U.S. 336, 342, 94 S.Ct. 1146, 39 L.Ed.2d 370 (1974); Hampton & Co. v.
United States,276 U.S. 394, 409, 48 S.Ct. 348, 72 L.Ed. 624 (1928). If 201(g)
(1)(A) defines as drugs every item included in the USP and NF, the FDA is not
being consistent in its treatment of other items similarly recognized. The
Commissioner, therefore, has not applied the 201(g)(1)(A) definition to every
item in the compendia. Rather he has singled out for drug classification items
included in the USP and NF on the basis of factors, such as toxicity in this case,
that are not relevant to the statutory criteria in 201(g).

29

The Commissioner admitted in his affidavit that mere inclusion in the USP and
NF is an insufficient basis for drug classification after the decision in National
Nutritional Foods Ass'n v. FDA, supra (504 F.2d 761).11 He attempts to
distinguish that case on the ground that Vitamins A and D are recognized at
therapeutic dosages in the compendia and are regulated as drugs in this case
only at levels in excess of the recognized food levels in the USP. Other articles,
however, are recognized in the compendia at therapeutic levels and not
regulated as drugs, for example Vitamin C. The Commissioner must, therefore,
show that the conflicting treatment in the regulations of items similarly
classified in the USP and NF is not arbitrary under the applicable criteria. The
FDA regulates Vitamin C preparations at the USP's therapeutic level as food.
See, 41 F.R. 46156 et seq. (Oct. 19, 1976). To justify the regulation of

Vitamins A and D as drugs by relying on 201(g)(1) (A) the Commissioner

would have to distinguish his treatment of Vitamin C as food.
30

In proposing and adopting these regulations for Vitamins A and D, the

Commissioner did not rely upon or cite the recognition of these vitamins in the
USP and NF. He may not at this late hour on appeal rely upon them as the basis
for his drug classification because it is sheer post hoc rationalization. See,
Burlington Truck Lines, Inc. v. United States, 371 U.S. 156, 168, 83 S.Ct. 239,
9 L.Ed.2d 207 (1962); National Nutritional Foods Ass'n v. FDA, supra, 504
F.2d at 789.

31

Inclusion in the USP or NF does not automatically establish that the

classification of such an article as a drug is reasonable. To invoke the 201(g)
(1)(A) definition as justifying a drug classification, the Commissioner must
conform with the rule-making procedure and, through a clear exposition of his
rationale, state the justification for his reliance upon recognition in the USP and
NF.

32

The district court's dismissal of this action is reversed and the case is remanded
with directions to enter an order granting summary judgment in plaintiffs' favor
declaring 21 C.F.R. 250.09 and 250.10 invalid as arbitrary and capricious
and not in accordance with law.

33

It is so ordered.

Sitting by designation

There are only minor differences between the proposed regulations and the
version finally adopted. For a more detailed discussion of the promulgation of
these regulations, see National Nutritional Foods Ass'n v. Weinberger, 512 F.2d
688, 691-93 (2d Cir.), cert. denied sub nom., National Nutritional Foods
Association v. Mathews, 423 U.S. 827, 96 S.Ct. 44, 46 L.Ed.2d 44 (1975)

The regulations contained exceptions for conventional foods containing

naturally-occurring amounts in excess of the U. S. RDA limits and for special
dietary foods such as infant formulas

These documents have also been submitted to this court for in camera
inspection

Since the decision in National Nutritional Foods Association v. Food & Drug

Administration, 504 F.2d 761 (2d Cir. 1974), cert. denied, 420 U.S. 946, 95
S.Ct. 1326, 43 L.Ed.2d 424 (1975), Congress enacted 411 of the Act, 21
U.S.C. 350, which provides, in relevant part, that except as provided in
paragraph (2):
"(B) the Secretary may not classify any natural or synthetic vitamin or mineral
(or combination thereof) as a drug solely because it exceeds the level of
potency which the Secretary determines is nutritionally rational or useful."
Paragraph (2) renders paragraph (1) inapplicable when a vitamin or mineral is
represented for use in the treatment of "specific diseases or disorders" or for use
by children or pregnant or lactating women. This section elevates this court's
holding in National Nutritional Foods Association v. Food & Drug
Administration, supra (504 F.2d 761), invalidating 21 C.F.R. 125.1(h), to an
affirmative statutory limitation upon the Commissioner's power to regulate
vitamins as drugs and clearly retains "therapeutic intent" as the primary factor
in drug classification under 201(g) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. 321(g).
5

This court determined that there was ample evidence that Vitamins A and D
can be toxic if consumed in large quantities over a period of time and, therefore,
upheld the Commissioner's determination under 503(b) of the Act as not
being arbitrary and capricious. 512 F.2d at 704. To limit an article to
prescription sale under 503(b), however, it must first be properly classified as
a drug under 201(g) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. 321(g)

Affidavit of Alexander M. Schmidt, M.D., Commissioner of Food and Drugs,

filed in the district court on February 20, 1976, at P 7, p. 8

The Government contends in its brief that the legislative history of the recent
enactment of 411 of the Act, 21 U.S.C. 350 (discussed at note 4, supra ),
establishes that Congress sanctioned the regulation of vitamins and minerals
that might be toxic under the drug provisions of the Act. Although the
comments of individual Senators and Congressmen mention that 411 was not
intended to limit the FDA's authority to treat toxic vitamins as drugs, see 121
Cong.Rec. S21857 (Dec. 11, 1975, comments of Senator Schweiker); 122
Cong.Rec. H3245 (April 12, 1976, comments of Congressman Rogers),
toxicity, while relevant to a determination of limitation to prescription sale, was
not included as an element in classifying an article as a drug. The views of a
later Congress as to the construction of a statute adopted by an earlier Congress
have "little, if any" significance. United States v. Mauro, 544 F.2d 588, 594 (2d
Cir. 1976)

The FDA can rely upon its experience to support its regulations. Consumer
Union of the United States v. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 491 F.2d

810, 812 (2d Cir. 1974). When experience is relied upon to provide a factual
basis for a regulation, it must be made part of the administrative record to
enable effective judicial review. National Nutritional Foods Ass'n v.
Weinberger, 512 F.2d 688, 701 n. 11 (2d Cir.), cert. denied sub nom., National
Nutritional Foods Association v. Mathews, 423 U.S. 827, 96 S.Ct. 44, 46
L.Ed.2d 44 (1975). The Commissioner's experience relied upon in this case is a
general awareness of the "numerous and widespread" therapeutic usages for
high dosage Vitamins A and D preparations. Affidavit, supra note 6, at P 5, pp.
4-5. This experience was not made part of the administrative record and,
therefore, cannot provide factual support for the Commissioner's conclusion
that Vitamins A and D preparations in dosage units of 10,000 IU and 400 IU,
respectively, are objectively intended for therapeutic use
9

A representative sampling of the documents indicating a therapeutic usage is

reprinted as an appendix to the district court opinion. 418 F.Supp. at 401-03

10

The "U.S.P. units" in the United States Pharmacopoeia are treated by the FDA
as substantially equivalent to the "international units" in the regulations for both
Vitamins A and D

11

The Commissioner indicated his agreement with this court's statement in

National Nutritional Foods Association v. Food & Drug Administration, 504
F.2d 761 (2d Cir. 1974), cert. denied, 420 U.S. 946, 95 S.Ct. 1326, 43 L.Ed.2d
424 (1975), that reliance upon the USP and NF would "prove too much." He
went on to state:
"In my judgment, while the Act provides that an article is deemed to be a drug
if 'recognized' in the U.S.P. or N.F., a vitamin preparation should nevertheless
not be classified as a drug on this basis with respect to a usage which is
specifically recognized by these compendia to be a prophylactic (food) usage.
Consistent with this principle, the vitamin preparations subject to the
regulations exceed the levels of potency recognized as 'prophylactic' in the
United States Pharmacopoeia and National Formulary."
The Commissioner has admitted therefore, that recognition in the USP and NF
does not automatically establish that a vitamin is a drug under 201(g)(1) (A).
Additional steps must be taken by him to justify the classification. The FDA
must analyze the purposes for which Vitamins A and D are "recognized" in the
USP and NF and make a finding of fact with respect to the level at which they
are "recognized" as being used for therapeutic purposes. In this case we do not
pass upon the reasonableness of the Commissioner's proposed interpretation of
201(g)(1)(A); we only note that the agency must first comply with the rulemaking procedure to enable this court effectively to review the Commissioner's

position regarding drug classification under 201(g) (1)(A).