Review of Dietary Supplement Regulation

Abstract

Human health condition significantly depends on the food they consume. Up to 50% of diseases are likely related to food and nutrition.1 The growing trend of using dietary supplements to fill nutritional deficiencies, which aims to improve human health and prevent diseases, is evident. Governments of different countries set rules and regulations for the dietary supplement business to provide the public with quality and safe products, to grow the domestic economy, to attract foreign investment, and/or to set barriers and protect local production. Frameworks of regulations in individual states are more or less similar. However, their approaches might be radically varying. The business of these products is susceptible to the ever-changing regulatory environment and, therefore, affects product safety, quality, and, ultimately, the public interest. Thus, recommendations based on scientific analysis are essential for achieving the goal of caring for public health and improving well-being through the use of dietary supplements. The article discusses and analyzes the main aspects of legislative regulations of supplements in different countries, including Georgia.