What Ingredients Are Banned in Supplements?

These are banned or severely restricted across virtually all regulated markets:

• DMAA (1,3-dimethylamylamine): Prohibited in US, EU, UK, Canada, Australia, and most other markets. Associated with cardiovascular events.
• DMHA (2-aminoisoheptane): Banned in Australia, Canada, UK. Restricted in EU. US status uncertain.
• Ephedra alkaloids: Banned in US since 2004, and in most other major markets.
• Synephrine (bitter orange) at high doses: Restricted in Canada and some EU markets.

• Yohimbine: Banned or restricted in several EU countries including Germany and France. Legal in US.
• Melatonin (high dose): Above 0.5mg treated as a medicine in many EU countries. US allows 5–10mg+ as a supplement.
• Kava: Banned in Germany, UK (under certain conditions), and several EU countries due to hepatotoxicity concerns.
• Many new botanical extracts: If not on the EU Novel Food list and not historically marketed in the EU before 1997, they require Novel Food authorisation.

• Health Canada's Natural Health Products Regulations restrict ingredients not on the permitted ingredient lists. Stimulant compounds, high-dose vitamins (above UL), and many herbal extracts not covered by Health Canada monographs require a Level III application with clinical evidence.
• Colloidal silver and similar products are specifically prohibited from making health claims.

The TGA maintains a list of substances that cannot be included in listed medicines. Anything not on the permitted ingredients database requires evaluation as a registered medicine or a formal inclusion request. High-potency stimulants, psychoactive botanicals, and heavy metals above permitted limits are prohibited.

• UAE/Saudi Arabia: Alcohol-based extracts are restricted for halal certification. Pork-derived gelatin in capsules requires halal alternatives. Some stimulants banned outright.
• South Korea: Strict limits on caffeine content in health functional foods. Several herbal ingredients not on MFDS approved list cannot be included.
• Japan: Raw materials must be from approved sources. Certain herbs traditional in Western medicine are not part of Japan's Food with Function Claims framework.

Every ingredient should be checked against: (1) the destination country's permitted ingredient list, (2) any applicable dose limits, (3) the WADA prohibited list if selling to athletic consumers, and (4) the applicable Novel Food status if the ingredient is new to that market. This is not a one-time check — regulations change and new banned substance lists update regularly.