Signed into effect on May 13, 2002, one of the provisions of the new Farm Security And Rural Investment Act, also known as "The Farm Bill", amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prohibit the use of the name "Ginseng" unless the herb is part of the genus Panax. The genus Panax includes Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) and American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) (1,2).

This means that "Siberian ginseng" cannot be used to describe Eleutherococcus senticosus, effectively requiring a change in the labeling of the following Pure Encapsulations products containing Eleutherococcus senticosus: Siberian Ginseng 0.8% E & B, ADR Formula and Glucose Support Formula. For Siberian Ginseng 0.8% E & B, the product name will become "Eleuthero 0.8% E & B" and the Supplement Facts panel will include the herb as "Eleutherococcus senticosus". In ADR Formula and Glucose Support Formula, Siberian ginseng will also appear as "Eleutherococcus senticoscus" in the Supplement Facts panel.

The move to reclassify Siberian ginseng was launched by U.S. Senator Russell Feingold (D-WI) representing the interests of the Wisconsin American ginseng growers and the AHPA, or the American Herbal Products Association. Both groups take the position that the chemistry of Panax differs from that of Eleutherococcus senticosus in that eleuthero does not contain the saponin glycosides, also known as ginsenosides (2).

The changes will be reflected in Pure Encapsulations Summer 2003 catalog scheduled for release in June. New labeling will be placed into effect within the next few weeks.