910 481 086 
What are food supplements called in other countries and which bodies regulate them?
Launching the same product in several markets is not just a matter of translation, it is a matter of legal compliance and adaptation. The category, the term on the label and the permitted messages vary from country to country. What is understood as a food supplement in the EU is considered a dietary supplement in the United States and a natural health product in Canada. Therefore, understanding how food supplements are named in other countries is the first step in avoiding customs incidents, marketplace objections or last-minute corrections to final artwork. In addition to the name, the referee for the match changes in each region. In Europe, the EFSA comes into play alongside national authorities; in the US, the FDA under the DSHEA framework; in Brazil, ANVISA; in India, FSSAI; in Japan, the MHLW and its FOSHU/FNFC/FFC channels; and so on. Each authority brings with it its own regulations, consumption limits, warning formats, and rules for the use of claims. This regulatory mosaic explains why so many brands stumble when they try to reuse labels from one country to another without prior review. In this article, we provide a practical summary of the official names and competent authorities in the main markets where you can sell your “food supplements” to help you plan your labelling and communication and establish commercial strategies that will lead to resounding success. If your sales plan involves selling food supplements in other countries, this list will serve as a checklist to validate the category name, detect claims and finalise the artwork before printing, exporting or launching campaigns. Names of food supplements in other countries
- What is it called?: Food supplements
- Regulatory bodies: EFSA and national authorities.
- Operational key points: Use ‘food supplement’ as a generic term and adapt national requirements (prior notification in some countries, positive lists of ingredients, mandatory warnings). Perfect for a multi-country strategy within the EU when discussing food supplements in other European countries.
- What it is called: Food supplement
- Who regulates: National authorities (aligned with the EU).
- Operational key points: Consistent translations in e-commerce and retail; complies with mandatory warnings and recommended daily dosage.
- What is called: Dietary supplements
- Who regulates: FDA (DSHEA framework).
- Operational key points: Post-market model: operator responsibility, structural/functional claims with disclaimer and, where applicable, structure-function notification. It is important not to mix EU/US requirements when internationalising food supplements in other countries.
- What it is called: Natural health product
- What is called: Health Canada.
- Operational key points: Usually requires an NPN (Natural Product Number). Adjust positioning: here, the official label does not refer to a ‘dietary supplement’.
- What is called: Food supplements.
- Who regulates: British authorities.
- Operational key points: Largely aligned with the EU, with some nuances. Review equivalencies of positive lists and notification procedures.
- What it is called: Suplementos dietarios
- Regulatory authority: ANMAT (Ministry of Health).
- Operational keys: Local translation required — ‘dietarios’ does not mean ‘dietéticos’ —; check ingredient lists and local warnings.
- What it is called: Suplementos alimentares
- Regulatory authority: ANVISA.
- Operational guidelines: Specific framework for supplements with categories and positive lists; attention to maximum intakes and predefined claims.
- What it is called: Suplemento alimenticio
- Regulatory authority: COFEPRIS.
- Operational keys: Labelling and advertising with clear limits; validate novel ingredients before scaling up your food supplements in other Latin American countries.
- What it is called: Complementary medicine
- Regulatory authority: TGA.
- Operational keys: Some of the submissions are listed or registered; the word ‘medicine’ implies standards and claims that are different from ‘food’.
- What it is called: Health supplements / Complementary medicine
- Regulatory authority: SAHPRA.
- Operational key points: Verify whether your product falls under complementary medicines and adjust evidence and registration accordingly.
- What it is called: Health supplements
- Who regulates: Dubai Municipality (and local authorities).
- Operational keys: Approves label in English/Arabic, validates import and certificates.
- What is called: Food supplements.
- Who regulates: National Food Safety Authority of Egypt.
- Operational keys: Check registration/import and claim equivalencies.
- What it is called: Herbal medicine and related products (category used for many supplements)
- Who regulates: NAFDAC.
- Operational guidelines: Classification and authorisations vary according to plant origin and presentation.
- What it is called: Health supplements
- Who regulates: FSSAI.
- Operational guidelines: Specific regulations for nutraceuticals and health supplements; review lists of ingredients and maximum levels.
- What it is called: Health food
- Regulatory authority: NMPA (formerly CFDA).
- Operational keys: There are ‘blue cap’ approvals; categories and claims with reinforced control.
- Cómo se denomina: Alimentos con declaraciones de propiedades saludables (por ejemplo, FOSHU, FNFC, FFC)
- Who regulates: MHLW (in coordination with consumer/health authorities).
- Operational key points: System based on claim categories; assess whether your evidence fits into FOSHU/FNFC/FFC before promising benefits.
Common mistakes when internationalising food supplements in other countries
After reviewing each market in detail, it is worth analysing the most common mistakes we see time and time again when brands try to sell food supplements in other countries by reusing labels or messages. These are seemingly minor errors — literal translations, information taken out of context, category confusion — but they have a real impact. In our years as consultants, we have seen many products that are stopped at the border, requiring last-minute corrections. This list of five common mistakes will serve as a quick checklist to help you prevent them before printing, exporting, or launching campaigns.
- Literal translation of ‘complemento alimenticio’ as dietetic supplement in Latin America. In Argentina, ‘suplemento dietario’ is used, and in Brazil, ‘suplemento alimentar’.
- Reuse the same US labelling in the EU.
- Confusing the category in Australia/Japan: complementary medicine or foods with health claims is not the same as ‘food supplements’ in EU countries.
- Global claims that directly conflict with the national lists of several countries (Brazil, India, Japan).
- Omitting the competent authority in the documentation (Health Canada/NPN, NAFDAC, ANVISA, etc.).
It should be noted that the same capsule can be a ‘dietary supplement’ in the US, a ‘food supplement’ in the EU, a ‘natural health product’ in Canada, or a ‘complementary medicine’ in Australia. Therefore, it is necessary to change the name and marketing strategies, adapting what you promise, how you label it, and what procedures you follow to each territory. If you are going to sell food supplements in other countries, start with the correct name.
Would you like us to review your labels, translations and claims for each of the countries where you wish to sell? At LegaleGo, we turn your products into a multi-country project ready for inspection (reviewing labelling, claims, and notifications). Write to us and we will offer you tailored support for all your needs.
