Pharma Companies Oppose Government Plan to Regulate Nutraceuticals as Drugs

The government wants to move the regulation of nutraceuticals, like health supplements and functional foods, from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to the drug regulatory authority. Pharma groups and experts are against this change, saying it needs more discussion.

Nutraceuticals are food products with added health benefits. This market in India is expected to grow from $4 billion in 2020 to $18 billion by 2025.

Experts say India’s current rules for nutraceuticals follow global standards, similar to those in the US, UK, Australia, China, Japan, and the EU. Dr. RK Sanghavi, head of the Nutraceutical Committee of the Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association (IDMA), says the FSSAI has aligned India’s regulations with these international practices, ensuring product safety.

A high-level committee is reviewing the guidelines for these products. This committee includes officials from various government departments and health organizations. However, industry experts feel they have not been sufficiently involved in these discussions.

Sanghavi warns that if vitamins and minerals are removed from FSSAI’s oversight, the nutraceutical market could shrink by 70%. The government is also thinking about controlling the prices of nutraceuticals to make them more affordable for consumers.