Uttar Pradesh FSDA Supplement Guidelines: Disease Claims Prohibited, RDA Limits and Labelling Requirements

The news

Uttar Pradesh's Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has issued strict guidelines banning health supplements and nutraceuticals from carrying disease-treatment claims. FSDA Commissioner Dr Roshan Jacob directed all relevant businesses in the state to comply, effective immediately. The move follows a review that found several products containing excess ingredients, unauthorised substances and misleading claims.

Under the new rules, product names such as Diabetes Care, Arthritis Care, Kidney Care, Liver Detox, Cardio Care, Thyroid Care and Blood Sugar Control are prohibited. Every pack must display 'Not for Medical Use' in bold and clearly state the product category — health supplement, nutraceutical, probiotic, prebiotic or special medical food. The nutrient content must be shown as a percentage of the Indian Council of Medical Research's recommended dietary allowance (RDA). A basic supplement cannot contain more than 100% of the RDA for any nutrient; a general nutrient claim requires at least 15% of the RDA, while a 'high' or 'rich' claim requires 30%. The use of drugs, hormones, steroids, narcotics and psychotropic substances is banned, and products for athletes must not contain substances on the World Anti-Doping Agency's prohibited list. Online claims on company websites, social media and e-commerce platforms must match the packaging, and platforms must remove non-compliant products. Manufacturers, repackers, relabellers, distributors and retailers all bear compliance responsibility, and products from other states or imports sold in Uttar Pradesh are also covered.

What is the legal basis for regulating health supplements in India?

Health supplements and nutraceuticals are regulated under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which consolidated several previous food laws. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) framed the Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose, and Prebiotic and Probiotic Food Regulations, first notified in 2016 and later revised in 2022. These regulations define what constitutes a health supplement, set maximum permissible limits for nutrients based on Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) guidelines from the Indian Council of Medical Research, and explicitly prohibit any claim of disease prevention, treatment, or cure. The Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 also bars advertisements that claim to cure certain diseases, a provision that applies to products presented as food if they make therapeutic claims. State food safety authorities, such as the Uttar Pradesh FSDA, enforce these central regulations and can issue supplementary directives to address local non-compliance.

What prompted the guidelines?

Health supplements and nutraceuticals are sold to provide nutrients or other permitted ingredients, but they must not be presented as treatments for disease. The FSDA's review identified excess quantities of ingredients, unauthorised substances and misleading claims in some products, prompting closer scrutiny across sales and advertising.

How will the rules be enforced across the supply chain?

Manufacturers must retain ingredient, quality-testing, batch and shelf-life records. Repackers and relabellers must ensure accurate information and warnings. Distributors and retailers also bear responsibility, and no party can avoid compliance. Online platforms must remove non-compliant products and stop their sale. Products from other states and imports sold in Uttar Pradesh are covered, preventing different compliance standards across sales channels.