Yes — but Europe is not a single market when it comes to supplements. The EU Food Supplements Directive sets a baseline, but each member state adds its own notification requirements, permitted ingredient lists, and maximum dose guidelines. Here's what you need to know before you ship.
The EU Food Supplements Directive (2002/46/EC) governs vitamins and minerals across all member states. Only vitamins and minerals on the positive list in Annex I are permitted. Maximum and minimum amounts per daily portion must be safe and meaningful.
For other ingredients — botanicals, amino acids, probiotics — there is no harmonised EU positive list yet. This means national rules apply, and they vary significantly between Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands.
Every EU supplement label must include: product name, net quantity, ingredient list in descending weight order, allergen declarations, best before date, storage conditions, recommended daily portion, and a statement not to exceed the recommended daily dose.
The label must be in the official language(s) of the country of sale. If you're selling across multiple EU markets you'll need multi-language labels or market-specific versions.
Only health claims authorised under EU Regulation 1924/2006 are permitted. The EFSA-approved claim list is strict. Claims like 'boosts immunity' or 'supports gut health' are only allowed in specific, pre-approved phrasings tied to specific nutrients at specific levels.
Unauthorised claims — even if true — are illegal and grounds for product seizure. This is one of the most common compliance failures for US and UK brands entering Europe.
Several ingredients common in US supplements are not permitted in EU products including: DMAA, DMHA, ephedra, high-dose melatonin (country-specific), kava, and many stimulant blends. Botanicals in novel food status require Novel Food authorisation under EU 2015/2283 before they can be sold.
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