What is the Swiss regulation on food supplements?
Quick summary
In Switzerland, food supplements are foodstuffs governed by the FSA and the FSUAO (SR 817.022.14), without prior authorisation but under a posteriori control by cantonal chemists.
Key facts
Key takeaways
- Food supplements are legally classed as foodstuffs in Switzerland, never as medicines.
- The FSUAO (SR 817.022.14) sets the authorised vitamins, minerals and other substances as well as the maximum quantities per daily dose.
- No prior authorisation is required to place a supplement on the market, except for novel foods and certain claims.
- Controls are carried out by the cantonal chemists; in 2024, 113 of 127 products sold online were judged non-compliant.
- Health claims are only authorised if they appear in Annex 14 of the FIO (SR 817.022.16) or have been approved by the FSVO.
In 2024, the cantonal chemists checked 127 food supplements sold online: 113 were subject to a sales ban. The Swiss regulation of the food supplement rests on the Federal Act on Foodstuffs and Utility Articles (FSA, SR 817.0), in force since 1 May 2017, and on the FDHA Ordinance on Food Supplements (FSUAO, SR 817.022.14). This framework places supplements in the foodstuffs category, distinct from medicines covered by the TPA, and organises an a posteriori control rather than a prior authorisation. This article is part of our complete guide on the food supplement and summarises the applicable legal regime.
What is the legal framework for food supplements in Switzerland?
Which laws and ordinances govern food supplements?
The legal framework rests on three main texts: the Federal Act on Foodstuffs and Utility Articles (FSA, SR 817.0), the Foodstuffs and Utility Articles Ordinance (FSUAO general ordinance, SR 817.02) and the FDHA Ordinance on Food Supplements (FSUAO supplements, SR 817.022.14)[1].
The FSA came into force on 1 May 2017 and aligned Switzerland with the food law of the European Union, without abandoning specific Swiss solutions (indication of the country of production, for example)[2]. The FSUAO food-supplements ordinance, for its part, sets the requirements specific to supplements: authorised vitamins and minerals, maximum quantities per recommended daily dose, labelling. Its last substantive revision dates from 1 July 2020, with a new calculation model for maximum quantities based on current scientific knowledge[3]. Other ordinances complete this foundation: the OAVMS (SR 817.022.32) on the addition of vitamins and mineral salts, the OPFA (SR 817.022.17) on prohibited plants, and the FIO (SR 817.022.16) on information and claims.
Food supplements: foodstuffs or medicines?
In Switzerland, food supplements are legally classed as foodstuffs, never as medicines[4]. They therefore fall under the FSA, and not under the Therapeutic Products Act (TPA, SR 812.21), which governs medicines under the authority of Swissmedic.
Article 2 of the FSUAO defines food supplements as foodstuffs whose purpose is to supplement the normal diet, constituting a concentrated source of vitamins, mineral salts or other substances with a nutritional or physiological effect[3]. This boundary is legally decisive: a supplement must have no pharmacological effect, nor be presented as curing, alleviating or preventing diseases. The distinction is sometimes thin: Swissmedic and the FSVO have published a document of delimitation criteria to clarify borderline cases[5].
Which substances are authorised in a food supplement?
Vitamins and minerals: the FSUAO positive list
The FSUAO operates by positive list: only the vitamins and mineral salts appearing in its Annex 1 may be used, under the conditions set out there[3]. This logic differs from a default-prohibition regime: what is not listed is not authorised.
The admitted nutrient complexes (for example organic magnesium salts or vitamin C esters) are defined in Annex 2 of the FSUAO, with the purity criteria of Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 applicable[3]. The maximum quantities set in 2020 are based on a calculation model grounded in existing dietary intakes and the tolerable upper levels (UL) issued by EFSA[6]. Exceeding these thresholds is prohibited: it tips the product into the medicines category or renders it non-compliant.
Plants, additives and novel foods: what is regulated or prohibited
For plants, the regime is reversed: a negative list appears in Annex 1 of the OPFA (SR 817.022.17), cataloguing the species whose use is not allowed in foodstuffs because of their toxicity[7]. This list, in force since 1 May 2017, covers plants that are active at low doses, in particular those whose use is reserved for medicines, such as ephedra (Ephedra sinica) or kava-kava (Piper methysticum). Alongside plants, other substances banned in food supplements in Switzerland appear in Annex 4 of the OAVMS, including melatonin and red yeast rice (Monascus purpureus).
This Annex 4 of the OAVMS (SR 817.022.32) targets substances presenting a toxicological risk or a pharmacological effect, irrespective of their plant origin[8]. Finally, novel foods — substances without a significant history of human consumption in Switzerland or the EU before 15 May 1997 — require prior FSVO authorisation under Ordinance SR 817.022.2[9]. This authorisation mechanism generates several differences between the Swiss and European regulations, the EU relying on Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 and a centralised authorisation system in Brussels.
| Ingredient category | Type of list | Reference text | Authorisation regime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamins and minerals | Positive list | FSUAO, Annex 1 | No authorisation if listed |
| Plants | Negative list | OPFA, Annex 1 | Authorised unless listed as prohibited |
| Other bioactive substances | Negative list | OAVMS, Annex 4 | Authorised unless listed as prohibited |
| Novel foods | Prior authorisation | SR 817.022.2 | FSVO authorisation mandatory |
| Health claims | Positive list | FIO, Annex 14 | No authorisation if listed, otherwise FSVO validation |
How is a food supplement placed on the market in Switzerland?
The self-monitoring principle, without prior authorisation
In Switzerland, no prior authorisation is required to place a food supplement on the market — except for three specific exceptions within the meaning of the FSA and its ordinances: novel foods (SR 817.022.2), genetically modified organisms (FOGMO, SR 817.022.51) and health claims not listed in Annex 14 FIO[10]. The self-monitoring principle, set out in Art. 26 FSA, prevails.
In concrete terms, anyone who manufactures, imports or distributes a supplement is responsible for its safety within the meaning of Art. 26 FSA. As part of their self-monitoring, they must ensure that all relevant legal provisions are observed: composition, labelling, claims, traceability[10]. The establishment must notify its activity to the competent cantonal enforcement authority — generally the consumer protection and veterinary affairs service (SCAV) or its equivalent — but no product-by-product notification is required. This logic rests on the responsibility of the economic operator within the meaning of Art. 27 FSA, not on prior state filtering.
Importation, online trade and status of EU products
Importation of European supplements into Switzerland is not automatic: the Cassis-de-Dijon principle, which in principle allows the free movement of goods compliant with the law of a neighbouring state, has notable exceptions in food law. Switzerland may refuse a product compliant with EU law if it applies a specific negative list, a different maximum threshold or a specific labelling requirement. The importer must therefore verify compliance with Swiss law for every reference, even if it is already sold in Berlin or Lyon.
For online trade, Swiss legal requirements apply in full: labelling in German, French or Italian, the specific designation ‘food supplement’, the recommended daily dose, mandatory warnings (Art. 3, para. 7, FSUAO)[3]. The FSVO recommends caution when buying on foreign sites that lack a complete address, promise exaggerated effects or are not labelled in a Swiss official language: these signals statistically betray a high risk of non-compliance[10].
Who controls food supplements in Switzerland?
FSVO, cantonal chemists and Swissmedic: who does what?
The division of responsibilities is decisive and often poorly understood: the FSVO legislates and coordinates at federal level, the cantonal chemists implement and control in the field, Swissmedic only steps in for products crossing the line into medicinal-product status[11].
Articles 47 and 51 of the FSA explicitly entrust the cantons with the enforcement of food law: the cantonal chemist implements the FSA in the field of foodstuffs and utility articles, and is autonomous in carrying out this task[12]. The Association of Cantonal Chemists of Switzerland (ACCS) coordinates the cantonal services, which each year inspect more than 40,000 businesses[11] and analyse around 100,000 samples of foodstuffs and utility articles[11]. The FSVO does not carry out the controls directly: it sets the law, tracks its scientific evolution and coordinates the national campaigns with the cantonal laboratories.
Sanctions and recent control campaigns
In the event of non-compliance, the cantonal chemist can issue a sales ban, order a recall or seize products on the basis of Arts. 33 (objections) and 34 (contested products) of the FSA. The decision is notified by registered mail and may be subject to an objection, then to an administrative and judicial appeal before the competent cantonal court[12].
The 2024 campaign conducted by the ACCS on 127 supplements sold online resulted in 113 sales bans, including 48 cases where a recall proved necessary due to health risks[13]. As online shops generally allow customers to be contacted directly, only 3 public recalls were ordered, and 3 notifications were sent to the European rapid alert system RASFF for foreign products. Another notable campaign had targeted foodstuffs containing CBD: 85 products out of 100 were judged non-compliant, with 73 sales bans issued[14]. These figures confirm that Swiss self-monitoring operates by a posteriori filtering, with a high non-compliance rate in the most exposed segments (e-commerce, exotic ingredients, claims on the medicine borderline).
Frequently asked questions on the Swiss regulation
Do food supplements require prior authorisation in Switzerland?
No, as a matter of principle. Food supplements are foodstuffs subject to self-monitoring by the manufacturer or importer, without prior state authorisation. Three exceptions nevertheless exist: novel foods within the meaning of Ordinance SR 817.022.2, genetically modified organisms, and health claims not listed in Annex 14 of the FIO. For these cases, FSVO authorisation is mandatory before placing on the market. The establishment must, however, notify its activity to the competent cantonal service.
Is a food supplement authorised in the European Union automatically authorised in Switzerland?
Not automatically. Switzerland is not part of the EU and maintains its own list of authorised and prohibited substances. A supplement legally sold in France or Germany may contain a plant or a dosage not allowed under Swiss law, in particular under Annex 1 of the OPFA (prohibited plants) or the maximum quantities set by the FSUAO. The Cassis-de-Dijon principle has notable exceptions in food law. Verifying compliance with Swiss law remains the responsibility of the importer or distributor.
What is the difference between the FSVO, the cantonal chemists and Swissmedic?
The FSVO drafts and coordinates food law at federal level, without directly checking products in the field. The cantonal chemists implement the FSA in each of the 26 cantons: they inspect businesses, take samples and issue sales bans. Swissmedic only steps in if a product crosses the line into medicinal-product status — for example, a supplement claiming a direct therapeutic effect would then fall under the TPA. The division of responsibilities is set out in Articles 47 and 51 of the FSA.
Which health claims are authorised on a food supplement in Switzerland?
Only those listed in Annex 14 of the FIO (SR 817.022.16) or explicitly approved by the FSVO. This positive list catalogues scientifically validated claims, such as ‘vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal bones’. The conditions of use (minimum dose, exact wording) must be respected. Claims suggesting that a supplement cures, alleviates or prevents a disease are prohibited — they fall within the pharmaceutical domain. A non-listed wording requires prior authorisation, following a scientific dossier submitted to the FSVO.
What does a consumer risk by buying a non-compliant food supplement abroad?
On a personal level, mainly a health risk: non-compliant products may contain toxic substances, excessive dosages or contaminants. During the 2024 national campaign on 127 products bought online, 113 were subject to a sales ban and 48 required a recall to consumers. For personal use, the consumer is generally not criminally prosecuted, but parcels may be seized at customs if non-compliance is manifest. Reselling such a product would fall under commercial liability within the meaning of the FSA.
How can I check whether a food supplement complies with Swiss law?
Several concrete cues allow an initial check: the labelling must be drafted in German, French or Italian, mention the designation ‘food supplement’, the recommended daily dose and the warning not to exceed it. The ingredients must appear in the positive annexes (vitamins/minerals in Annex 1 of the FSUAO) or be absent from the negative annexes (Annex 1 OPFA for plants, Annex 4 OAVMS). In case of doubt, the cantonal chemist service can be contacted directly before purchase or import.
Is Switzerland stricter or more flexible than the European Union on food supplements?
Rather stricter on claims, more pragmatic on substances. Switzerland imposes a positive list of health claims (Annex 14 of the FIO) where the EU also relies on Regulation (EC) 1924/2006, but the Swiss list is generally more restrictive. Conversely, the self-monitoring regime without prior authorisation is consistent with the EU’s since the 2017 revision, which aligned Switzerland with Directive 2002/46/EC. Residual differences mainly concern national negative lists and certain specific maximum dosages.
Sources and references
14 sources- Federal Act on Foodstuffs and Utility Articles (FSA, SR 817.0)
- Food law 2017 — Official presentation
- FDHA Ordinance on Food Supplements (FSUAO, SR 817.022.14)
- Food supplements — Official FSVO page
- Delimitation criteria between medicines and foodstuffs
- Explanatory report — Calculation model for maximum quantities
- Ordinance on Plant-based Foodstuffs (OPFA, SR 817.022.17)
- Ordinance on the Addition of Vitamins, Mineral Substances and Other Substances to Foodstuffs (OAVMS, SR 817.022.32)
- FDHA Ordinance on Novel Foods (SR 817.022.2)
- FAQ — Food supplements (consumers)
- Association of Cantonal Chemists of Switzerland (ACCS)
- FSA, Articles 47 and 51 — Cantonal competence and enforcement
- National campaign 2024 — Food supplements online
- National campaign 2022 — Products with CBD mention