Regulatory Framework for Food Supplements in Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, food supplements are regulated under strict food safety policies by the Centre for Food Safety (CFS), part of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD). All food supplements must comply with the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap.132) to ensure they are safe for human consumption.
Regulatory Framework for Food Supplements
Health food products and supplements fall under four key ordinances, depending on the ingredients and claims made about the product:
Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (PHMSO): Governs general food safety, ensuring all food products, including supplements, meet human consumption standards.
Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (PPO): Applies to supplements with medicinal ingredients or claims, regulating over the counter (OTC) pharmaceutical products.
Chinese Medicine Ordinance (CMO): Governs products containing traditional Chinese medicine ingredients.
Undesirable Medical Advertisements Ordinance (UMAO): Restricts misleading or unsubstantiated health claims, particularly those relating to disease treatment or cures.
Registration and Classification
The Department of Health’s Drug Office regulates dietary supplements depending on their ingredients and claims:
Food Supplements vs. Drugs: Products claiming to prevent or treat diseases, or containing medicinal ingredients, may be classified as drugs. These products must be registered under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (PPO), requiring a dossier that includes safety, efficacy, and quality control data.
Health and Nutraceutical Supplements: Supplements without medicinal claims may not require registration. However, the specific requirements depend on the ingredients and claims made on the product’s label or packaging.
