Lack Of Harmonization Holding Back EU Supplements Market
Executive Summary
EU-wide harmonization is needed for regulations governing maximum safety levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements to facilitate the creation of a true single market, argues French industry body Synadiet.
A lack of European harmonization on food supplements regulation is holding back the growth of the region’s industry and needs urgently addressing, according to French trade group Synadiet.
Manufacturers operating in Europe are currently required to navigate national rules – which vary from one market to the next – relating to various aspects of food supplement production not covered by existing EU-wide regulations. According to Synadiet – which represents 250 firms operating in France – this situation has prevented the creation of a true EU single-market for supplements, generating significant costs for manufacturers as they adapt their product from one market to the next to adhere to national regulations.
While the European Commission has established harmonized lists of the vitamin and mineral substances which can be used in the manufacture of food supplements – and the labeling requirements for these products – many other aspects of production are not subject to EU legislation. For example, national rules still govern maximum safety levels for vitamins and minerals, and in many cases the use of substances other than vitamins and minerals in the manufacture of food supplements.
A lack of action by the Commission has seen countries including Germany, Poland and the Netherlands go it alone to set maximum intake values for vitamins and minerals in supplements in order to protect consumers and tighten regulatory oversight of the market.
Synadiet is unequivocal that such a situation cannot be allowed to continue. The EU food supplements market must be harmonized “In order to allow the free movement of quality products,” the group argues, “and to facilitate the emergence of European food supplement champions capable of competing with Asian or American companies.”
Along with its demand for regulatory harmonization, Synadiet has a number of other proposals to improve the prospects of the French supplements market:
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Adapt the health claims regulation to benefit consumers and unleash innovation
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Create a specific regulatory framework for plant-based food supplements
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Educate healthcare professionals about the benefits and value of supplements
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Develop a nationwide healthcare policy based on prevention of disease
Synadiet believes these actions are necessary to maintain the growth momentum the French market has enjoyed over the past decade. Food supplement sales in France have almost doubled from just over €1bn ($1.1bn) in 2008 to around €1.9bn last year.
As Synadiet's figures show, pharmacy is the largest retail channel for food supplements in France and has been growing steadily year-on-year since 2008. According to French self-medication industry association Afipa, sales of food supplements in pharmacy grew by 8.3% to €880m last year, thanks to broad-based growth across leading product categories. (Also see "France's Supplement Market in 2018: Demand For Probiotics and Natural Alternatives Drives Sales Growth" - HBW Insight, 13 Feb, 2019.)