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FSSAI

How To Sell food Supplements In India?

The desire for a healthier diet and the craze over physical fitness has made food supplements an attractive segment for potential sellers. But what licenses and registrations do you need to sell supplements in India? Keep reading to find out.

Food supplements come under the purview of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India – or FSSAI – and are governed by the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. 

The Act states that – no person shall manufacture, distribute, sell or import any novel food, genetically modified articles of food, irradiated food, organic foods, foods for special dietary uses, functional foods, nutraceuticals, health supplements, proprietary foods and such other articles of food which the Central Government may notify in this behalf’.

From this, we can conclude that an FSSAI Licence Registration is a must to sell supplements in India. 

Documents and Licenses Required to Sell Supplements in India

An FBO which intends to sell food supplements and understands what they classify as will need to apply for a license with the FSSAI.

It also needs to have the following documents ready to go:

For help getting an FSSAI license online in India get in touch with our experts right away! Categories of Food Supplements that Can Be Sold in India. A Food Business Operator intending to manufacture or sell food supplements needs to obtain a license in order to do so. However, not many people know this as the law on food supplements is relatively new. It is known as – 

The Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose, Functional Food and Novel Food) Regulations, 2016. 

This regulation which has been in effect since 1 January 2018, covers the following type of foods:

  • Health supplements – These are made of concentrated sources of one or more nutrients with established nutritional effects. They are formulated to supplement the normal diet of a person and can be taken if a diet is not providing enough of a nutrient. They can be taken by healthy individuals.
  • Nutraceuticals – These are naturally occurring ingredients that are extracted, isolated or purified from food or non-food sources. If taken in a measured manner, they can help maintain good health. They can be taken by healthy individuals.
  • Food for Special Dietary Use (FSDU) – These are specially formulated to satiate specific dietary requirements for specific physiological or health conditions. They are meant for people with reduced ability to digest, absorb, or metabolize regular food. They also work to supplement such people’s nutritional requirements. They can be used only under medical supervision.
  • Food for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP) – These are meant for people with reduced ability to digest, absorb, or metabolize regular food. They also work to supplement such people’s nutritional requirements. They can be used only under medical supervision.
  • Functional foods – These are specially processed to go beyond fulfilling nutritional requirements. They enhance a particular physiological response and/or reduce the risk of certain diseases and disorders.
  • Novel foods – These are those foods, ingredients or methods that were previously not used for human consumption.
  • Food with added prebiotic ingredients – These include prebiotic ingredients which are not food themselves but are beneficial as they modulate gut microbiota.
  • Food with added probiotic ingredients – These probiotics are live microorganisms which provide certain demonstrated health benefits.
  • Specialty food containing plant or botanical ingredients – These are foods which have a historical history of usage.

Important Aspects to Keep in Mind Before Selling Health Supplements in India 

  • Food supplements can be sold in powder, capsule, tablet and syrup form. 
  • The number of nutrients added to the supplements cannot go beyond the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) set by the Indian Council of Medical Research. 
  • In the case of health supplements, the individual nutrient content cannot be less than 15% of RDA. However, if the claim is of higher nutrient content, it cannot be less than 30% of the RDA.
  • Plants or botanical in naturally occurring forms cannot be considered food supplements. Also, their minimal process forms such as juiced or cooked cannot be considered a health supplement, nutraceutical, FSDU, or FSMP.
  • The formulation of supplements has to be on sound medical principles and their benefits have to be backed up by valid data. Hormones, steroids and psychotropic drugs cannot be added to these food items.

Labeling Requirements to Keep in Mind Before Selling Health Supplements in India 

Labeling requirements, some of which are listed below, must also be met:

  • Inclusion of the words ‘HEALTH SUPPLEMENT’
  • If the product is a nutraceutical, then the word ‘NUTRACEUTICAL’ and its common name must also be included on the packaging 
  • For other categories of supplements use labels like ‘FOOD  FOR  SPECIAL  DIETARY  USE’, ‘FOOD  FOR  SPECIAL  MEDICAL  PURPOSE’, ‘PROBIOTIC FOOD’, etc.
  • An advisory warning ‘NOT FOR MEDICINAL USE’ must be prominently written on the packaging 
  • The content, purpose and target age group must also be included
  • A statement highlighting that the supplement cannot be used as a substitute for a regular diet should be printed on the package as well.

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