General Information
Food supplements made up of vitamins and minerals do not need to be registered with the Federal Public Health Office unless their ingredients are over the maximum allowable limits set out by a March 2002 amendment to the Swiss Food Order. The Federal Public Health Office must authorize foods supplements containing non-vitamin/mineral ingredients. Disease claims are prohibited on all nutritional products.
Herbal products are either considered to be food products, or pharmaceuticals depending on composition, method of consumption, purpose, and labels. Supplements sold as food must have a common food use. Botanicals considered to pharmaceuticals must be registered with the intercantonal control body and fall into three categories: those only salable in pharmacies some of which require prescriptions, those not requiring prescriptions which may only be sold in pharmacies and drug stores, and those whose sale is not restricted. Some traditional herbs may be registered using a simplified pharmaceutical registration process.
Fortified or functional foods do not require registration if their maximum limits and claims are in line with those set by the Swiss Food order, and their claims are also in compliance with the Swiss Public Health Office’s 2000 guidelines on vitamin and mineral claims. Products making claims not listed must be registered with the Swiss Public Health Office as special food products. Foods with added botanicals are not regulated.