Dietary supplements in Poland – market, regulations

Poland is one of the largest producers and importers and consumers on the EU dietary supplements market. The main value of the Sanitary Inspector warns that many of them do not work on what they are advertised. Not much can be done about it. “Supplemental Eldorado” is growing in strength on the Internet. – A large change of law at the European Union level is needed – says Dr. Paweł Grzesiowski.

– The market of dietary supplements is very poorly regulated at EU level. Legal regulations are not adequate to how it develops. Dietary supplements are, in accordance with current law and food, and therefore are not subject to clinical examinations. They are to have a nutritional or physiological effect, and they are not to be associated with the treatment of diseases, because this is what drugs or medical devices are used. This is what it looks like in theory – explains Dr. Paweł Grzesiowski, chief sanitary inspector in an interview with tvn24.pl.

Manufacturers: These are not medicines, we don't have to prove anything

The problem is that in practice many companies suggest or even inform in advertising messages that the supplements they propose have a healing effect in specific disease entities. And this is already abuse.

– We are clearly dealing with conflict in such cases. Such a vitamin tablet is not to be the treatment of avitaminosis. Suggesting that a component of a dietary supplement improves immunity or anti -inflammatory is abuse. However, regulations are so leaky that disputes before courts last for years. The manufacturer insists that their agent has an action “supporting treatment” or even healing, but because he registered it as a dietary supplement, he does not have to do complicated and expensive clinical trials. Sometimes he even does this tests, but completely different than it is done with medicines. These are not randomized research, placebo controlled. For our allegations, the manufacturer replies that this is not a medicine, so it does not apply to such rules. A vicious circle – explains the head of GIS.

Why do manufacturers prefer to register supplements, not medicines?

It's mainly about time and money. Registration of drugs requires several -stage clinical trials, which is very expensive and can last for years. Then the measure must be approved by international agencies and be approved for use in the country. To register a supplement, all you have to do is submit a simple application to the Sanitary Inspection.

– Such a manufacturer goes to the path right for the supplement, and then tries to promote it in the indications with which we do not agree – says Dr. Paweł Grzesiowski.

The law is leaky

What would have to change to heal the situation? It turns out that not only a change in domestic law, but also the European Union is needed. It's about changing the definition of dietary supplements.

– If the manufacturer begins to communicate that his product supports the treatment of skin lesions or prevents hair loss, this should automatically result in qualification as a medicinal product. A very rigid border would have to be designated for this. At the moment, food has one definition. Marking regulations should also be precise in this respect. In my opinion, the definition of dietary supplements should be narrowed and associated directly and exclusively with a supplement to the diet. It would open our way to regulate issues related to the fact that if the dietary supplement is to affect health, he will have to enter the category of medicinal products and undergo clinical examinations to prove that it actually works – believes the head of GIS.

Eldorado supplement

In the opinion of Paweł Grzesiowski, in this way the market could eliminate poor quality products, often placebo. Further potential steps include such products with advertising restrictions or at what points they could be distributed.

– Today it is so that the company that wants to release something on the market that is even on the verge of legality, introducing a product, immediately does a campaign, primarily on the Internet. Before we remove it from the market, even having solid arguments, it will be able to sell a million packages, and the rate of return on investment is achieved – admits Grzesiowski.

The last attempt to introduce regulations in Poland to limit the pathologies of the market supplements market, especially in the context of advertising, was the draft amendment to the Act on the safety of food and nutrition from 2023.

“It is proposed to introduce a ban on using the image of authorities and experts in the field of medical sciences and health sciences, including primarily people performing medical competitions, subjects that can arouse associations with the performance of professions applicable in health protection (including a stethoscope, pressure measuring apparatus, bed, and scale equipment, scale, alphabeting. Also, presentation of activities that can arouse associations with the performance of these professions, including research, writing prescriptions, sales at a pharmacy or a pharmacy point ” – we read in the assessment of the effects of regulation.

In February 2023, the draft amendment was forwarded for public consultations. To this day, he has not had further legislative steps.

Market worth over PLN 7 billion

According to the Poland and Supplements report prepared by the Polish Economic Institute, the value of the dietary supplements market exceeded PLN 7 billion in Poland in 2024. For comparison, in 2017 it was valued at PLN 4.4 billion. In turn, PMR analysts predict that the average annual growth rate of this market by 2029 will be almost 7 percent. In 2023, more than a third of buyers decided to order the preparation via the Internet.

– As Poland, we are a supplement Eldorado. In many Western countries, this market has not developed so much. Companies invest primarily in pharmacy and do not want to pair supplements, because they perceive it as an image “lower category” – says the head of GIS.