Over the past 20 years, the European Union has shown a relentless commitment to the principle of the free movement of goods.

 

The foodstuffs sector has been one of those most affected by the development of the European internal market. Indeed, the vast majority of national food legislation has now been harmonised at EU level. In other areas, the principle of mutual recognition - the obligation to allow free circulation of safe products sold in other Member States - has generally ensured unhindered movement of goods.
 
However, a Commission Green Paper in 1997 identified food supplements (along with processing aids and food fortification) as a sector where the principle of mutual recognition was not working effectively. Incompatible national regulations have restricted Europe-wide growth of the food supplement market and led to unfair barriers to trade.

The European Commission subsequently produced a Discussion Paper and in response to comments received, drafted an EU Directive on food supplements in May, 2000. The final Directive was adopted in June 2002.

The EU Food Supplement Directive is not a prescriptive and detailed list of the requirements for the manufacture of food supplements. Rather, it is a framework, the fabric of which will be set out over the coming years in further technical Directives drafted by the Commission and adopted by Member States.