Since Brexit, the UK has its own supplement regulatory framework separate from the EU. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) govern food supplements in Great Britain, while Northern Ireland retains alignment with EU rules. Here's what supplement brands need to know when selling into the UK market.
The UK retained EU supplement law as of Brexit day (31 December 2020) and has since been updating it. The UK Food Supplements Regulations 2003 (as amended) govern vitamins and minerals. The UK maintains its own positive lists for permitted vitamins and minerals — currently aligned with the EU lists but diverging over time.
The UK has not harmonised botanicals regulation. Botanical ingredients are assessed case by case by the FSA. In practice, if an ingredient was widely marketed in the UK before Brexit with a reasonable safety record, it is generally accepted. Novel ingredients require UK Novel Food authorisation — a separate application from EU Novel Food.
Labels must be in English (no requirement for Welsh unless sold specifically in Wales). Key requirements include: product name, net quantity, ingredient list in descending weight order, allergen declarations (now following UK format — bold in ingredient list), best before date, storage conditions, recommended daily portion, and the statement 'Do not exceed the recommended daily dose.'
Post-Brexit, labels no longer need to carry an EU Responsible Person address. Instead, a UK address (for Great Britain) must appear on the label.
Products from outside the UK must have a UK-based Responsible Person whose name and address appears on the label. This is the person or company legally responsible for compliance. Many brands use their UK distributor or importer as their Responsible Person.
The UK retained the EU nutrition and health claims register as of Brexit but has since been reviewing it. Authorised health claims must be used exactly as worded. The same prohibited claim categories apply: no disease claims, no claims implying a supplement can replace a balanced diet.
Holland & Barrett (specialist health), Boots, Superdrug, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Ocado, and Amazon UK are the primary supplement retailers. Holland & Barrett is the largest specialist supplement retailer in Europe by store count. Amazon UK is one of the most competitive supplement marketplaces globally — see our dedicated Amazon UK guide for specifics.
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