EU Health Claims for Food Supplements: Rules & Examples

Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal bones. But can we say that Vitamin D prevents osteoporosis?

Both statements appear to communicate similar benefits, but the choice of words makes an important difference. One describes vitamin D’s role in maintaining normal bone health, while the other suggests it can prevent a disease. That distinction is crucial under EU health claims legislation.

For food supplement companies, those few words can define whether a health claim complies with EU legislation or crosses into the territory of medicinal claims.

When does a health claim go too far?

Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, health claims on food supplements must comply with specific requirements. These claims describe a relationship between a food, or one of its ingredients, and health.

But there are limits to what companies can communicate.

For example, saying that Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal bones is an authorised health claim, provided the applicable conditions are met. Claiming that it prevents osteoporosis, however, suggests disease prevention, which is not permitted for food supplements.

The distinction even becomes more complicated when we look at botanical ingredients.

More than 4,500 botanical claims were submitted for evaluation at EU level, yet approximately 2,000 remain on hold. Pending final decisions, certain claims may continue to be used under applicable transitional arrangements and national requirements.

This creates an interesting regulatory situation: a botanical claim that can be used in one EU Member State may not necessarily be accepted in another.

One EU Market, Different Interpretations

Although EU health claims legislation aims to harmonise requirements across Member States, differences in national interpretation and reinforcement remain.

Even the wording of an authorised claim can raise questions. Some national authorities apply stricter interpretations, while others may accept alternative wording that preserves the meaning of the original claim.

These rules do not stop at product labels. Websites, advertisements, social media content and even influencer collaborations must also comply with applicable health claim requirements.

For a Food Business Operator (FBO) planning to enter several European markets, understanding these differences is an important part of developing a compliant communication strategy.

How to get the claims right?

Getting a health claim right involves checking its wording. Not only that, including the product’s formulation, ingredients and intended markets play an important role in determining what can and cannot be legally communicated. With national requirements adding another layer of complexity, a thorough compliance review can help identify potential issues before a product reaches the market.

This is the part where regulatory support, such as that provided by Obelis, can be useful. This support includes reviewing formulations and labelling to navigating country-specific requirements and regulatory notifications.

What a food supplement promises consumers must be backed by evidence and stay within the limits of what regulations allow.