KEYWORDS: Dietary supplements, food supplements, vitamins, minerals, food additives, Fortification Policy, addition of vitamins, EU, US, China, regulatory environment.

ABSTRACT: the use of vitamins, minerals and similar substances in consumer products sold in the EU and US are subject to various regulatory requirements to guarantee the safety of consumers. A comparison between the two regulatory landscapes is provided, as well as a brief review of newly enacted legislation in China.

The regulatory environment regulating the use of vitamins in consumption products containing vitamins in Europe and the US is based on the principle of ‘safe until proven harmful’, thus establishing the legal basis for producers to distribute their products within such territories without requiring a preventive authorization from administrative authorities.

A clear exception to this rule is provided by EU legislation, which recognizes single Member States the possibility to implement more restrictive requirements, e.g. in the case of d ... ...