SWITZERLAND - AMENDMENTS ON THE USE OF NUTRIENTS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES IN FOOD SUPPLEMENTS AND FORTIFIED FOODS

The Swiss State Council has approved the revision of several food laws, including an amendment of the Swiss Ordonance on the addition of vitamins, minerals and certain other substances to food and the Ordonance on food supplements. The overall aim is to align further with European Union Regulations, however, the Swiss acts do have a number of particular elements that should be taken into account for the commercialization of functional foods on the Swiss market.

Based on the nutritional recommendations from the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, the conditions of use for vitamins and minerals are extensively reviewed for both categories. The new approach takes into account the contribution of vitamins and minerals from conventional foods in the daily diet to ascertain that the maximal tolerable intake level of a given nutrient is not exceeded. As a consequence, the maximum permitted quantities of most nutrients have been considerably lowered. However no maximal levels are set for vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B12, biotin and pantothenic acid. For food supplements specifically there is no limit set for the use of silicon, the use of the mineral boron is permitted and the maximum daily doses for coenzyme Q10, DHA, EPA, lutein and L-carnitine increase.

The use of vitamin A in fortified foods and food supplements will be restricted to the precursor form of beta-carotene only. While phosphorylated calcium oligosaccharides and certain Red algae are now also recognized as sources of calcium for fortified foods. Furthermore, the substances diméthylamylamine (DMAA) et 2,4-dinitrophénol (DNP) are added to the list of restricted substances, meaning they cannot be added to foods. For the addition of probiotics in foods, a minimum level of 1000 000 000 UFC per daily portion is set. The list of ingredients would need to specify the strain used and add a notice that it contains lactic ferments.

The amended acts will enter into force next month, however foods which have been imported, produced or labelled in Switzerland, in line with current rules, can still be sold until 30 June 2022.

Office fédéral de la sécurité alimentaire et des affaires vétérinaires - Droit alimentaire: de nouvelles dispositions vont entrer en vigueur - link