General Information
Food supplements are unregulated and do not require notification or authorization. Disease claims are not allowed on nutritional products.
Botanical products fall into two categories: herbal supplements and herbal medicines. Herbal supplements are unregulated and do not require notification or authorization. Herbal medicines must be registered through the standard pharmaceutical registration process with the National Institute of Pharmacy and Medicine. There is a simplified registration process for common botanicals.
Fortified and Functional Foods – Registration with the Ministry of Health is necessary for products making specific health claims. Fortified and functional foods not making claims do not require registration. Foods with added botanicals are unregulated and do not require notification or authorization. Botanicals may be added to foods as long as they are considered safe.
There is a post-marketing surveillance program in place designed to track adverse events of herbal medicines.
Portugal does not have, nor are there plans to establish, a national center, national policy or regulations of TM/CAM.
Contact
Ministry of Health
