The letters are sent to companies by e-mail only to the contact e-mail address specified in Foodsup.

For notification files not introduced via Foodsup, the letter will be sent to the contact e-mail address mentioned in the file.

The Unit Food Supplements remains at your disposal to answer questions via apf.sup@health.fgov.be and on 02 524 73 00 in the morning as far as possible.

 

New bank account for the Food supplements fees !

From October 1st, 2021, the bank account used for the Food supplements notification fees will be modified.

All payments from October 1st, 2021 must be made to the following bank account: (IBAN) BE15 6792 0042 4430 (BIC : PCHQ BEBB).

 

Food supplements are foodstuffs in a pre-dosed form. Therefore, the "horizontal" (general) regulation on labelling of pre-packaged foodstuffs, advertising and additives also applies to food supplements.

"Food supplements" means all pre-dosed foodstuffs (capsules, pastilles, drop dispensing bottles, …) containing one or more nutrients, plants or other substances with a nutritious or physiological effect. The purpose of food supplements is to supplement the normal diet.

At European level, there is a frame directive 2002/46/EC (.PDF) on food supplements. This directive is a first step towards full harmonization of the several national regulations.

At national level, food supplements are regulated by three specific Royal Decrees, one for nutrients , one for plants  and one for other substances.

The Royal Decree on nutrients is also applicable on normal foods to which nutrients have been added, the so called "fortified foods". On European level these foods are regulated by Regulation 1925/2006.
 

Notification

Before marketing food supplements and fortified foods,  a notification file shall be submitted to the authority.

A notification file should contain amongst others:

  • information about ingredients:
    • for food supplements: a complete qualitative and quantitative list of ingredients;
    • for fortified foods: a qualitative and quantitative list of the added nutrients (and if present, data on non-authorized plants from list 1 of the RD on plants);
  • the nutritional analysis;
  • data about the presence and non-toxicity of the active substances;
  • the labelling of the product.

An explanatory note about the legislation is available in Dutch and French.

The notification is done by preference with the online application FOODSUP.

Before FOODSUP can be used for the first time, the user has to register on line. In addition, the responsible person for the notification has to request access as local admin by means of a form, this for safety reasons.

Once access has been granted, one can log into FOODSUP and create all notifications. For more information about the application a manual is available:

It is however still possible to submit a paper version of a Notification file (.WORD) through another procedure (available in Dutch and French).

In order to help you introducing your files, frequently asked questions are available on our FAQ-document.

In the processing of the notification file, verifications are performed on the declared composition of the product and on the draft label.

The notifier receives a letter with an administrative number and remarks based on the review of the notification file.

There is no number on the letter but a code "b" when the file is incomplete or a code "a" for products outside de scope of the above-mentioned decrees on plants, nutrients or other substances.

The number will be temporarily assigned for six months if a major infringement of the food legislation is found in the notification file (code "d") or if further assessment is required (code "c").

The administrative number does not constitute an acknowledgement of the compliance nor of the status of the product and cannot be considered as a marketing authorization.
 

Labelling and advertising of food supplements

The labelling of food supplements shall bear all mandatory indications as for ordinary foods. Besides that the labelling of food supplements shall bear a series of additional indications:

  • the name "food supplement";
  • the reference intake (RI); 
  • a warning not to exceed the recommended daily intake;
  • a statement that the products should be stored out of the reach of young children;
  • a statement that food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied diet;
  • the amounts of nutrients present in the product per recommended daily portion (this may also be given in graphical form);
  • the name of the plant(s) in the language of the region (when available), as well as the scientific name (for food supplements containing plants).

 The labelling and advertising of food supplements:

  • must not attribute to the product the property of preventing, treating or curing a human disease, or refer to such properties (the labelling must not contain any therapeutic and/or prophylactic statements);
  • shall not include any mention stating or implying that a balanced and varied diet cannot provide appropriate quantities of nutrients in general.

The nutritional and health claims used on foods have to comply with the Regulation 1924/2006. More information about claims can be found in the guidelines and on the page about advertising. For claims "on hold", mainly relating to botanical, the indicative list of claims which are not considered as therapeutic and/or prophylactic (available in Dutch and French) is still applicable.
 

Marketing of food supplements

The notified products less than five years ago or updated in the same period, can be consulted on this site. For more information a manual about this application is available.
 

Reporting indesirable effects (Nutrivigilance)

Operators have a legal requirement to report undesirable effects of wich they areaware of wich they could resonably be expect to come to their attention via online form.
 

Request for mutual recognition

The Regulation (EU) 2019/515 is applicable as from 19 April 2020. For any request for mutual recognition, a mutual recognition declaration must be completed and submitted with the notification file. This declaration shall contain the product characteristics, information on the lawfulness of the marketing in another Member State and the reference of the legislation in this other Member State. The declaration must be filled in one of our national languages (French, Dutch or German), but English is also accepted. The declaration and supporting documentation must be included in the notification file.

The mutual recognition declaration has to be accompanied by supporting evidence necessary to verify the information contained in the declaration and to demonstrate that the goods were lawfully marketed in another Member State.

In order to demonstrate the lawfulness of the marketing in the Member State of origin, the reference of the relevant rule, or information on the absence of any relevant rule, has to be specified.  

In addition, to demonstrate the marketing in this other Member State, a document proving that the product has been made available on the market at a precise date and allowing to identify the product, the suppliers and the customers or end-users, should be provided. If a document showing the notification of the product in the Member State of origin is provided, it should be accompanied by another document demonstrating the effective marketing of the product in this country.

Without this supporting evidence, the declaration will be considered as incomplete.
 

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