News
Jan 15, 2026 - Foods
EU maximum levels for food supplements from 2026
The European Union plans to introduce EU-wide binding maximum levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements from 2026. According to consumer organizations, selenium, manganese, folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin A or beta-carotene, vitamin E, vitamin D, and iron are among those to be regulated.
Manufacturers of food supplements must prepare for the planned maximum levels for vitamins and minerals to become binding in the EU. The aim is to prevent overdoses of vitamins and increase the product safety of food supplements.
Background: Why EU maximum levels are necessary
Many food supplements are offered to healthy individuals, although they are not necessary, and often in dosages that exceed the recommended maximum levels for vitamins and minerals. A long-term excessive intake of certain vitamins such as vitamin D, vitamin B6, or folic acid can pose health risks.
So far, there are no uniform legal maximum levels for vitamins and minerals within the EU. Instead, there are different national regulations that sometimes differ significantly. This leads to uncertainties among both manufacturers of food supplements and consumers.
Uniform EU regulations strengthen consumer protection
The planned harmonization aims to create uniform EU regulations for food supplements and strengthen consumer protection. The new maximum levels for vitamins and minerals aim to ensure a uniform safety level in the European single market. Specific values for individual vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin E, or iron are not yet available.
Support for manufacturers from BAV Institute and Tentamus
BAV Institute and Tentamus Laboratories support manufacturers of food supplements with comprehensive analysis of vitamins and minerals, nutritional assessments, and advice on legally compliant labeling of food supplements. This contributes to ensuring product safety and reliably implementing regulatory requirements, including upcoming EU maximum levels.
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