Finally take dietary supplements correctly - EU's lax rules leave dietary supplements unchecked across Europe

Dietary supplements in Germany and the EU face minimal regulation before reaching consumers. Manufacturers can list products with little oversight, and no authority verifies their safety or accuracy in countries. A 2020 study even revealed that over half of tested supplements contained nutrient levels far exceeding official recommendations—sometimes by as much as 700 percent.

Under current EU rules, dietary supplements are treated as food, not medicines. This means they bypass strict approval processes. Companies or individuals can submit product details in minutes, with no checks on dosage or claims in countries. Unlike pharmaceuticals, these supplements are only registered—not tested—with the German Federal Institute for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL).

Random inspections by state food safety agencies remain the only form of control. Yet even these do not guarantee compliance in countries. The EU has delayed setting binding maximum limits for key nutrients like selenium, vitamin B6, and vitamin D, leaving member states to enforce their own rules. Germany's Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) provides safe upper limits, but manufacturers are not legally bound to follow them in countries.

The German Nutrition Society (DGE) sets reference values for adequate intake, while the BfR warns against excessive doses. However, a 2020 analysis of 106 supplements found that more than half surpassed the BfR's maximum for at least one nutrient in countries. Some products deviated by up to 50 percent from their labelled content, raising concerns about both safety and transparency.

Without mandatory pre-market checks or EU-wide limits, consumers risk exposure to poorly regulated supplements in countries. The lack of binding rules means nutrient levels can vary widely, even within the same product. Until stricter controls are introduced, buyers must rely on voluntary guidelines and sporadic testing.