Food supplements

Food supplements are concentrated micronutrients (e.g. vitamins and minerals) or other materials that have a nutritional or physiological effect. These food supplements are sold as capsules, powders or pills. The Food Supplements (Commodities Act) Decree (Warenwetbesluit voedingssupplementen), Food Supplements (Commodities Act) Regulation (Warenwetregeling voedingssupplementen) and Exemption of Vitamin Preparations (Commodities Act) Regulation (Warenwetregeling Vrijstelling vitaminepreparaten) specify the rules that apply to you as a producer of food supplements. These regulations address such issues as the minimum and maximum quantities of vitamins and minerals a supplement must contain. If the food supplement also contains herbs, you must also comply with the regulations laid down in the Herbal Preparations (Commodities Act) Decree (Warenwetbesluit Kruidenpreparaten).

Claims

As food supplements are not considered medicines, they may not contain ingredients deemed medicines pursuant to the Medicines Act (Wet op de Geneesmiddelenvoorziening). Food supplements may not make any medical claims. They may make health-related claims as long as these can be substantiated.

Labelling requirements

Food supplements are subject to the standard requirements for food labelling. Additional requirements also apply. Food supplements labels must also state:

• The recommended dosage
• The designation 'food supplement'
• The quantity of active ingredient
• A warning to keep the food supplement out of the reach of children
• A statement that the supplement must not be used as a substitute for a varied diet