Regulators, academics and industry representatives came together in Mexico last month to share different views and models on dietary supplement regulation.

Mexican and European Union (EU) regulators and experts came together at a workshop on May 6, to discuss and debate issues from the definition of food supplements and the criteria for setting maximum levels of vitamins and minerals, to the use of nutrition and health claims.

More than 100 participants attended the workshop, organised by the International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplement Associations (IADSA) in conjunction with its Mexican member association Anipron and the Mexican Ministry of Health, with participants ranging from Mexico’s industry sector and international companies, to academics and government regulators.

Speakers included Basil Mathioudakis, Head of the European Commission’s Food Law Unit, who presented an overview of the EU’s food supplements regulation, highlighting maximum levels for vitamins and minerals and the nutrition and health claims regulation; John Hathcock, Vice President of Scientific and International Affairs for the US Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), who discussed the role and benefits of vitamins an minerals, stressing that maximum levels should be based on safety; and Mexican government officials Gabriela Moreno García, Director of Regulatory Policy, and Mario Raùl Santamaría Rangel, Director for Plants and Alternative Medicines, who gave an overview of the dietary supplement regulation in Mexico.

“We are delighted that this unique event was such a big success, and that IADSA continues to play a key role encouraging greater communication on the regulation and science behind dietary supplements,” said David Pineda Ereño, IADSA Director of Regulatory Affairs. “We will continue to encourage further detailed discussions at national levels.”

In Mexico, food supplements that contain vitamins and/or minerals only, are regulated as medicines, and most levels for vitamins and minerals for food supplements are based on the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA). The Mexican government does not permit claims to be used on food supplement products.

For more information contact David Pineda Ereño, IADSA Manager, Regulatory Affairs, 50 Rue de l’Association, 1000 Brussels, Belgium, tel: +32 (0)2 209 11 55, fax: +32 (0)2 223 30 64, or email [email protected], visit www.iadsa.org.

ENDS

IADSA is the voice of the worldwide dietary supplement manufacturing industry and an accredited international non-governmental organization (INGO) with a seat at the table of the main international regulatory bodies. IADSA has more than doubled in size since its creation in 1998, representing more than 50 trade associations and over 20,000 companies.