Food supplements and sports nutrition:the rules in Switzerland.

Why the topic is urgent

In 2024, the Swiss cantonal chemists tested plant-based food supplements in a national campaign. Of 127 products from 72 businesses, 125 were found non-compliant, and a sales ban was imposed on 113 products. 89 % of the samples came from online shops in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.^[15]

The most common findings: prohibited plants in 37 % of products, critical dosages in 37 %, unauthorised novel foods in 24 % and prohibited substances such as melatonin in 12 %. Non-permitted health claims were found in almost all products, and 13 of the 72 businesses were not registered.^[15] In its own risk-based inspections in 2024, the Cantonal Laboratory of Zurich imposed sales bans on 31 products from online shops.^[16]

First question: which category?

According to the Ordinance on Food Supplements (VNem), food supplements are foods intended to supplement the normal diet. They must be pre-packaged and offered in dosed form, for example as capsules, tablets or drinking ampoules.^[1]

Foods for sportspeople, on the other hand, fall under the Ordinance on Foods for Persons with Special Nutritional Needs (VLBE). They are intended to meet particular energy and nutrient requirements when ordinary foods are not practical. They include products for energy supply, products with a defined content of vitamins, minerals or other substances, and protein and amino acid preparations.^[4]

Substances and maximum amounts under the VNem

Permitted vitamins and minerals are listed in Annex 1 Part A of the VNem, other substances in Part B. The permitted chemical compounds are listed exhaustively in Annex 2, live bacterial cultures in Annex 3. Maximum amounts apply per recommended daily dose.^[1]

Since 1 July 2020, maximum amounts have been based on a health protection model: the intake from a normal diet is subtracted from the EFSA tolerable upper intake level, and the remainder is shared between food supplements and fortified foods.^[3] Some examples from Annex 1 Part A in the 2020 version:

Source: VNem, Annex 1 Part A, version of 01.07.2020.^{[2, 19]} The ordinance has been amended since, including with the Stretto 4 package on 01.02.2024.^[18] The current version on fedlex.admin.ch is always authoritative.

In Germany, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) publishes its own, considerably lower maximum level proposals, for example 20 µg for vitamin D. These are not binding and have no legal effect in Switzerland. If you also sell into the EU, they are useful as a guide.^[17]

Mandatory information on food supplements

The name of the food is «Nahrungsergänzungsmittel» (food supplement), supplemented by the characteristic categories of substances. The VNem also requires, among other things:^[1]

• the recommended daily intake in portions,
• a warning not to exceed this amount,
• a statement that food supplements are not a substitute for a varied diet,
• a statement that the product must be kept out of the reach of young children,
• the substance-specific warnings from Annex 1.

The general information required by the Ordinance on Food Information also applies. The information must be given in at least one official Swiss language.^{[1, 10]}

Specifics for sports nutrition

For foods for sportspeople, permitted substances are listed in Annex 11 of the VLBE, compounds in Annex 12 and bacterial cultures in Annex 13. Energy products and protein preparations must also meet Annex 14. The declared content must be correct at the time of sale.^[4]

Certain terms are also regulated: drinks with 260 to 300 mosmol/l may be called «isotonic», those with no more than 260 mosmol/l «hypotonic».^{[4, 5]}

Novel foods and CBD

Foods that were not consumed to a significant degree in Switzerland or the EU before 15 May 1997 are considered novel. They require authorisation. Novel foods authorised in the EU may also be placed on the market in Switzerland if the conditions of use are met. The FSVO authorisation procedure costs between CHF 500 and 50,000.^[6]

Important in practice: extracts can be novel even if the source plant is not. Cannabidiol (CBD) and other cannabinoids are novel foods and require authorisation, whereas hemp seeds, hemp seed oil and hemp seed flour do not.^{[6, 7]}

Health claims and medicinal claims

Health claims are only permitted if they are listed in Annex 14 of the LIV or have been authorised by the FSVO (Art. 31 LIV). General statements such as «supports health» are only allowed together with a permitted specific claim (Art. 34 para. 2 LIV). Claims still under review in the EU have no special status in Switzerland.^{[8, 9]}

Statements attributing to a food the property of preventing, treating or curing a disease are prohibited (Art. 12 LGV).^[10] This applies not only to the label, but also to product descriptions, images and reviews in the online shop.

Obligations for online retailers

• Self-monitoring: anyone who places food on the market or imports it must ensure that the legal requirements are met. Official controls do not release them from this duty (Art. 26 LMG).^[11]
• No notification: in Switzerland, food supplements need neither authorisation nor notification, except for novel foods, GMOs or health claims that are not listed.^{[1, 12]}
• Business registration: every food business must register its activity with the cantonal enforcement authority, including online shops (Art. 20 LGV).^[10]
• Information before purchase: in distance selling, the required information must be available when the product is offered, except for the date of minimum durability and the lot number (Art. 44 LGV).^{[10, 13]}
• EU products: products sold in the EU are not automatically marketable in Switzerland.^{[12, 14]}

How to check your range systematically

1. Define the category: food supplement, food for sportspeople or another food.
2. Check ingredients: every substance and compound against the permitted lists of the relevant ordinance.
3. Check dosage: amount per daily dose against the maximum amounts, including warnings.
4. Clarify novel food status: especially for extracts, mushrooms, cannabinoids and exotic plants.
5. Check claims: label, product description and images against Annex 14 LIV and the ban on medicinal claims.
6. Complete mandatory information: on the packaging and on the product page.
7. Document and repeat: record results and check again when laws or recipes change.

With large ranges, this is hardly possible by hand. An automated check can read labels and data sheets, compare them with the lists of substances and flag issues with references. The legal assessment of individual cases remains with specialists.

Frequently asked questions