1. Authorities
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1. Authorities
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Dietary Supplements
United Kingdom (UK)
This section provides an overview of the Authorities involved in setting regulations and managing compliance with the food product in scope.
UK Legal Framework
From January 1st, 2021, the UK's Legal Framework has changed.
The Food Information to Consumers (FIC) regulation 1169/2011 is a legal requirement that food businesses must follow in the UK. This regulation brings EU rules on general food labeling and nutrition labeling into one piece of legislation. The retained versions of this regulation apply to food businesses in Great Britain (GB).
In Northern Ireland (NI), EU food law will continue to apply as listed in the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The EU Food Supplements Directive 2002/46/EC came into force on 1 August 2005 and is implemented in the UK by the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003 (as amended), and equivalent regulations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The Regulations specify compositional and labeling requirements of food supplements, including the vitamin and mineral substances permitted for use in food supplements.
On 1 January 2021, The Nutrition (Amendment, etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 and The Nutrition (Amendment, etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 transferred responsibilities from EU organizations involved in the risk assessment and risk management processes covered by nutrition legislation to bodies in Great Britain (GB); and fixed inoperability's of retained Directive 2002/46/EC that would otherwise have arisen.
The information set out in this document aims to provide guidance on the rules, which apply to food supplements under these Regulations.
Note: in this guidance, any references to the European Union (EU) regulations should be read as meaning retained EU Law.
1. The Department of Environmental Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) [1]
Defra is responsible for food labeling legislation in England. They ensure that food labels are clear, easy to read, permanent, easy to understand, easily visible, and not misleading.
2. Food Standards Agency [2]
The Food Standards Agency is responsible for food safety legislation including allergens.
3. Department of Health and Social Care [3]
This department is responsible for The Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003. Their purpose is to regulate the sale of food supplements, with specific requirements regarding labeling, safety, and composition, with respect to the vitamins, minerals, and their forms that may be used in food supplements. They are also responsible for the Nutrition and Health Claims (England) Regulation 2007 and set out penalties and transitional measures to enforce the EC regulation in England.
4. Wales & Scotland [4]
The responsibility for the policy area of food supplements legislation in Wales has moved to the Welsh Assembly. The Food Standards Agency devolved administrations of Scotland and are responsible for national legislation in their own administration, where separate but similar regulations apply.
5. EU Commission [6]
Proposes and enforces legislation, and implements policies and the EU budget. The EU Commission is led by a team or 'College' of Commissioners, 1 from each EU country.
The European Commission is the EU's politically independent executive arm. It is alone responsible for drawing up proposals for new European legislation, and it implements the decisions of the European Parliament and the Council of the EU.
6. European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) [7]
EFSA serves as an impartial source of scientific advice to risk managers and communicates risks associated with the food chain. EFSA cooperates with interested parties to promote the coherence of EU scientific advice. EFSA provides the scientific basis for laws and regulations to protect European consumers from food-related risks – from farm to fork.
7. Border Control Posts (BCPs) [8]
All composite products (foodstuffs containing both products of plant origin and products of animal origin (e.g. mayonnaise containing egg products or savory/sweet sauce containing dairy ingredients or honey or meat juices)) must be presented at the BCPs for control before their entry into the EU market (for further details please refer to the Section 9. Importation requirements), the list of each member states BCPs is listed under:
For goods being imported into the UK, there is a new Target Operating Model (TOM) [9] being developed to manage UK imports of animals, animal-derived products, plants, and plant-based products.
8. Custom authority [10]
All imported goods (including food) to the UK are subject to customs declaration. The declaration should be lodged with the customs office where the goods were or will shortly be presented.
1.1 References
1. DEFRA
www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs
2. Food Standards Agency
www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care
4. Welsh Assembly
5. Scotland Regulations
6. EU Website:
7. EFSA
8. Border Control Posts
https://food.ec.europa.eu/animals/veterinary-border-control/contact-details-bcps-veterinary_en#EU
9. Target Operating Model
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-border-target-operating-model-august-2023
10. Custom Authority
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