EU food supplements legislation
Directive 2002/46/EC of 10 June 2002 lays down a harmonized list of vitamins and minerals that may be added for nutritional purposes in food supplements (in Annex I to the Directive). Annex II of the Directive contains a list of authorised sources (vitamin and mineral substances) from which these vitamins and minerals may be manufactured.
Belgian legislation regarding food supplements
At the national level, food supplements are regulated by three specific Royal Decrees, depending on whether the food supplements in question contain nutrients, plants or other substances:
- Royal Decree of 3 March 1992 concerning the placing on the market of nutrients and foodstuffs to which nutrients have been added
- Royal Decree of 29 August 1997 on the manufacture and trade of foods composed of or containing plants or plant preparations
- Royal Decree of 12 February 2009 regarding the manufacture and trade of food supplements that contain substances other than nutrients and plants or plant preparations
These decrees contain respectively:
- the minimum and maximum amounts of vitamins and minerals per daily portion
- lists of prohibited plants, edible mushrooms and plants to be notified in food supplements
- specific requirements for a number of substances
Furthermore, these decrees contain:
- a notification procedure before products can be placed on the market
- requirements for labelling and advertising
For more information, please consult the website of the FPS Public Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment