BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a new law prohibiting the sale of certain weight-loss and muscle-building supplements to anyone under 18.
Assembly Bill 2030, authored by Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, and signed by Newsom on Sept. 28, restricts the sale of over-the-counter diet pills and supplements marketed for weight loss or muscle building, unless a minor has a prescription.
According to the legislation, the restrictions apply to pharmacies, grocery stores, supplement retailers and online businesses.
Retailers must request identification when they cannot reasonably determine a customer’s age. Online sellers must verify a purchaser’s age through qualifying databases or require an adult signature and identification upon delivery.
Businesses that violate the law could face civil penalties of up to $500 per violation.
The legislation identifies ingredients such as creatine, green tea extract and raspberry ketone as factors courts may consider when determining whether a product is covered. However, the law does not automatically ban products containing those ingredients.
Newsom’s office said the restrictions are part of the governor’s broader effort to protect teenagers from potentially dangerous or mislabeled products and reduce health risks associated with their use.
The law is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2027, under California’s general rule that legislation passed during a regular legislative session takes effect on January 1 of the following year, unless an exception applies. AB 2030 does not specify a different effective date.
The full text of AB 2030 is available on the California Legislative Information website.