A Basic Guide to Importing Food Supplements into the UK
Since Brexit, importing goods into Great Britain has completely changed bringing with it a labyrinth of new regulations and standards impacting the smooth operation of businesses dealing in dietary supplements, food supplement, vitamins, and other nutrition-focused products.
Purpose and Importance of the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003
The Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003 were established to address the need for the regulation of food supplements, focusing on consumer health and maintaining market standards.
Role of Regulatory Bodies
Regulatory bodies oversee the regulations. They are responsible for monitoring compliance and enforcing the rules set out in the legislation making sure that all food supplements sold to consumers meet all safety, composition, and labelling requirements. Regular inspections and audits are carried out to assess compliance, and any discrepancies found are addressed promptly. These bodies also handle reports and complaints regarding non-compliance from consumers.
Import Process Management
For businesses involved in the import of food supplements into the UK, managing the import process effectively is an important part of the process. Some of the steps needed to be taken include:
Certification and Health Certificates
Import Notifications and Licences
Commercial Documents for Low-Risk Imports
Handling Special Cases
Labelling and Presentation Rules
The regulations impose strict rules on how food supplements should be labelled and presented to ensure clarity and prevent misleading claims. The regulations have restrictions on what can and cannot be marketed to consumers and this includes labelling.
the category name of any vitamin, mineral, or other substance with nutritional or physiological benefit
the recommended daily intake amount
a caution not to exceed the stated recommended daily amount
a notice indicating that food supplements should not replace a diverse diet
a statement advising that the product should be kept out of reach of small children
the quantity of any vitamin, mineral, or other substance with nutritional or physiological benefits contained in the product.
On top of the stipulations laid out the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003, you may find that additional information is required under EU Food Information for Consumers Regulations
Nutrition and Health Claims
It’s important to be aware of the rules surrounding nutrition and health claims. These are in place for anyone intending to make claims about certain aspects of their product and it’s worth checking the register to ensure your product claim falls within the Conditions of Use for a nutritional claim (for example, low fat) or a health claim (for example, calcium helps maintain normal bones). The Great Britain Nutrition and Health Claims (NHC) register lists all the claims that may be made on food supplements. Claims cannot claim or imply that food can treat, prevent or cure any disease or medical condition.
Managing the Process
The Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003 were designed to work seamlessly with EU directives. The EU’s directive on food supplements has an established list of vitamins and minerals that may be used in the production of food supplements, similar to the schedules found in the 2003 Regulations. By aligning with EU standards, the Regulations ensure that food supplements manufactured in England can be traded within the EU supporting both market access and regulatory compliance at this current time. It’s worth noting that things may change over time and will endeavour to update our information when it does.
As regulations continue to evolve, staying ahead is an important part of the process. If you need guidance and to ensure your operations align with the latest standards, get in touch.