Food supplements trade in Spain, are you interested, if so, you are in the right place! Our colleague Paula Marrero, dietician-nutritionist, will answer the most frequently asked questions about the food supplement trade in Spain.<\/p>\n
It is mandatory to notify the competent health authorities of any food supplement to be marketed in Spain. It is important to note that this is not an application for registration of an application that requires a resolution from the health authorities, but a declaration or communication<\/a>.<\/p>\n This market placement procedure is subject to fees<\/a> that vary depending on the Autonomous Community in which they are notified.<\/p>\n It depends on the location of the company that distributes them. If the company has its registered office in Spain, food supplements must be notified to the health authorities of the Autonomous Community where the registered office is located. However, if the company does not have its registered office in Spain but in Europe, the notifications of food supplements to the AESAN (Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition).<\/p>\n There are several nutrients and other elements that may be present in them. These include vitamins, minerals, amino acids, essential fatty acids, fiber, various plants and herbal extracts. For vitamins and minerals, it is essential that the chemicals used are non-hazardous and bioavailable to the body. To achieve this, there is a list of permitted substances. Maximum levels of certain nutrients are established in the regulations to ensure the normal normal use of these products.<\/p>\n In Spain, the regulations governing the ingredients and substances that can be added are very restrictive. Therefore, in order to market food supplements in Spain, we must rely on the so-called “Principle of Mutual Recognition”. According to this principle, if we can prove that the food supplement has been legally marketed in another European country, we can market it in Spain.<\/p>\n The company distributing the food supplement is responsible for its safety. This company must be registered in the Health Registry, have its food as a food supplement and guarantee that the product label complies with national and European regulations.<\/p>\n A health claim is a message or graphic, graphical or symbolic representation that states or implies a relationship between a food category, food or ingredient and health. There are also some restrictions and regulations for this type of claims, as only those authorized by the European Union can be used. These are described in Regulation 1924\/2006 and subsequent amendments. This has been previously authorized by EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority.<\/p>\n It is not necessary. Although the company distributing the food supplement must be registered in the Health Registry, it is not mandatory that the Health Registry appears on the label. It is sufficient for the label to indicate the name and address of the company, and with this information, inspectors can check whether the company is registered or not.<\/p>\n The address of the company distributing the food supplement must appear. It is not mandatory to display the manufacturer’s address.<\/p>\n Like any other food operator, they must also be registered in the Health Registry and meet minimum food safety requirements. In addition, the first placing on the market of food supplements must be notified to the authorities. The company responsible for notifying the food supplement is the one that introduces it to the market for the first time. However, the seller of food supplements, even if not responsible for its notification, must ensure that the supplement has been notified by the responsible party.<\/p>\n Marketing food supplements in Spain without prior notification constitutes a serious infringement punishable by a fine of 5,000 euros to 20,000 euros. In addition, additional precautionary measures, such as the immobilization of the products.<\/p>\n These are the 10 most frequently asked questions about the food supplement trade, if you want to go deeper into the subject, feel free to visit our Youtube channel!<\/p>\n If you found this information interesting, on our website you can find much more information necessary to carry out the trade of food supplements, such as labeling certification<\/a>, product labels<\/a>, food safety consulting<\/a> and HACCP<\/a> system.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n
Where should they be notified or communicated?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n
What ingredients can be included in food supplements and in what quantities?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n
Can any ingredient be incorporated in the food supplement?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n
What are the obligations of a food supplement company?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n
Can I include the statements on the label?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n
Must the health registration number appear on the label of food supplements?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n
What address should be on the label?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n
What procedure should be followed if the sale of food supplements is exclusively online?\u00bfQu\u00e9 procedimiento debe seguirse si la venta de complementos alimenticios \u00bfes exclusivamente online?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n
What happens if I market food supplements without notifying it?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n