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Selling food supplements in Switzerland

In Switzerland, food supplements are foodstuffs, governed by the FDHA Ordinance on Food Supplements (VNem) alongside general food law. They need no authorisation unless they contain a novel food or GMOs or carry an unlisted health claim. The business placing them on the market answers for their safety; cantonal authorities run spot checks.

Updated · Each section links to the official source it comes from

Specific rules
FDHA Ordinance on Food Supplements (VNem)
Authorisation
None, except novel food, GMOs or unlisted health claims
Product notification
Not required; the business notifies the canton of its activity
Name on the label
Food supplement («Nahrungsergänzungsmittel»)
Label language
At least one official language
Who checks
Cantonal enforcement authorities, by spot checks

Before a product goes on sale

The questions to answer, in the order they usually come up.

  1. 1Is it a food supplement, or does it fall on the medicines side of the line? Read more
  2. 2Are its vitamins, minerals and other substances allowed, and within the maximum levels? Read more
  3. 3Is any ingredient a novel food that needs authorisation? Read more
  4. 4Does the label carry the name, daily dose and warnings the VNem asks for? Read more
  5. 5Are the claims on the list, or authorised by the FSVO? Read more
  6. 6Who checks it, and what is kept on file? Read more

The rules, by area

What each area covers, the texts that set it, and what the official pages say.

Food supplement or medicine

Where food supplements stop and therapeutic products begin.

  • A food supplement is a food meant to supplement the normal diet, made of concentrates of vitamins, minerals or other substances with a nutritional or physiological effect, and sold in dosed form (VNem Article 1).
  • The FSVO says food supplements are foodstuffs, not therapeutic products: they must have no pharmacological effect and must not be presented as able to prevent, treat or cure a disease.
  • The FSVO classifies a product by an overall assessment of composition, dosage, purpose, labelling, presentation and advertising, and publishes demarcation criteria.

How we help: Compliant Always reads your formula, label and marketing copy against the demarcation points and shows which statements need a second look. Ask about this

Composition

What may go in, and how much.

  • Food supplements may be placed on the market only prepacked, in dosed forms such as capsules, tablets, sachets of powder or drop bottles (VNem Article 2).
  • Vitamins and minerals listed in VNem Annex 1 may be used under its conditions, and the maximum levels in Annex 1 apply per recommended daily dose.
  • Substances listed in Annex 4 of the FDHA ordinance on the addition of vitamins, minerals and other substances to food (VZVM) are prohibited (VNem Article 2).
  • Substances not consumed to a significant degree in the EU and Switzerland before 15 May 1997 need authorisation as novel food (LGV Article 15; FSVO).

How we help: Compliant Always reads your specifications and certificates of analysis against the maximum levels per daily dose and shows any ingredient without a status on file. Ask about this

Labelling

What a food supplement label adds to the general food particulars.

  • The name is «Nahrungsergänzungsmittel» (food supplement) (VNem Article 3).
  • The content of vitamins, minerals and other substances is given per recommended daily dose, with the percentage of the LIV reference values (VNem Article 3).
  • A vitamin or mineral may be mentioned only if the daily dose provides at least 15% of its reference value (VNem Article 3).
  • The label adds the recommended daily dose, a warning not to exceed it, a statement that supplements are not a substitute for a varied diet, and a statement to keep out of reach of young children (VNem Article 3).
  • The general food particulars of the LIV also apply, in at least one official language (LGV Article 36).

How we help: Compliant Always reads your label against the VNem statements and the LIV particulars and shows which are missing. Ask about this

Claims

What may be said about the product.

  • Labelling, presentation and advertising must not claim or suggest that a balanced and varied diet cannot generally provide adequate nutrients (VNem Article 4).
  • Health claims may be made only as listed in LIV Annex 14 with its conditions, or as authorised by the FSVO (LIV Article 31).
  • Statements that a food prevents, treats or cures a human disease are prohibited (LGV Article 12).

How we help: Compliant Always reads your claims against the LIV lists and shows which have no listed wording or authorisation on file. Ask about this

Responsibility and checks

Who answers for a supplement, and how it is checked.

  • Manufacturers, importers and distributors check, as part of self-supervision, that their products are safe and meet food law (FSVO; LMG Article 26).
  • Food businesses report their activity to the cantonal enforcement authority, but the FSVO says notification of individual food supplements is not required (LGV Article 20).
  • The FSVO notes that Switzerland has no nutrivigilance system for reports of adverse effects.
  • The FSVO says the legal requirements also apply to supplements sold online, including labelling in an official language.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps specifications, certificates of analysis and supplier documents with each product and lot, dated. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
BrandThe supplement sold under its name, its claims and its place on the food side of the line.Formula, label and claims read against the VNem and LIV in one place.
ManufacturerMaking the supplement within the maximum levels, and the records behind it.Certificates of analysis kept with each lot.
ImporterSupplements brought into Switzerland, and their label in an official language.Suppliers' documents read and dated before the goods arrive.
RetailerWhat it sells, online or in store.Questionnaires answered from the product record.

Cantons

Federal acts and ordinances set the rules. Inside Switzerland the cantons enforce food and utility-article law, each through a cantonal chemist who heads the cantonal enforcement authority; the Confederation enforces at import, export and transit (Foodstuffs Act, Articles 38, 47 and 49).

Labels must be in at least one official language: German, French or Italian. Some rules ask for the language of the place of sale, which differs between cantons.

Questions businesses ask

Do food supplements need authorisation in Switzerland?
No, except where they contain a novel food or GMOs or carry an unlisted health claim, according to the FSVO.
Do I have to notify each supplement?
No. The FSVO says notification of food supplements is not required, though the business reports its activity to the cantonal enforcement authority (LGV Article 20).
What must the label call the product?
«Nahrungsergänzungsmittel», food supplement, in an official language (VNem Article 3).
Which warnings go on a supplement label?
The recommended daily dose, a warning not to exceed it, that supplements are not a substitute for a varied diet, to keep out of reach of young children, and any Annex 1 warnings (VNem Article 3).
Are there maximum levels for vitamins and minerals?
Yes. VNem Annex 1 sets maximum levels per recommended daily dose. The FSVO says they were updated from 1 July 2020 with a new model based on current science.
When can a vitamin be mentioned on the label?
When the recommended daily dose provides at least 15% of the LIV reference value for it (VNem Article 3).
Which substances are prohibited?
Those listed in Annex 4 of the FDHA ordinance on the addition of vitamins, minerals and other substances to food (VZVM), among others (VNem Article 2).
When is a supplement a medicine instead?
When it has a pharmacological effect or is presented as preventing, treating or curing a disease. The FSVO looks at composition, dosage, purpose, labelling, presentation and advertising together.
Which health claims can be made?
Those listed in LIV Annex 14 with their conditions, or authorised by the FSVO (LIV Article 31).
Does Switzerland have a nutrivigilance system?
No. The FSVO notes that Switzerland has no system that records reports of adverse effects from food supplements.
How does Compliant Always help with selling in Switzerland?
Our team reads the rules for the markets you sell in. Compliant Always shows which apply to your product, keeps the documents behind each one ready, and watches the sources for changes. It shows what the requirements say and what your documents show; you decide.

Sources

Compliant Always is a product of Lettuce Labs LLC. It shows what requirements say and what your documents show. It is not legal advice, and you decide.

Tell us what you make, and we will show you the rules for it.

Name the product and the markets you sell in. We will come back to you with what applies in Switzerland and what your paperwork needs to show.

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