Medicines and food supplements

Question for written answer  E-001918/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Dan-Ştefan Motreanu (PPE)

As an addition to a normal diet, food business operators market food supplements, which are concentrated sources of nutrients (or other substances) with a nutritional or physiological effect. Such food supplements can be marketed in ‘dose’ form, such as pills, tablets, capsules or liquids in measured doses, which makes them similar to medicines.

In certain EU regions, there is growing confusion among the population as regards the difference between medicines and food supplements, especially because the latter often come with ‘health claims’. Consequently, one may easily use food supplements instead of medicine and vice versa.

• 1.What actions is the Commission taking to establish a clear distinction between food supplements and medicines?
• 2.Does it support information campaigns in the Member States to reduce confusion between medicines and food supplements?