End in sight for Asean harmonisation of supplements regulations

The supplement sector was identified as a priority area for harmonisation by the Asean leadership in 2004. Just over a decade later, items including labelling requirements, manufacturing standards, and permitted ingredients for health supplements across southeast Asia.

“This is a significant step forward for Asean and now creates one of the world’s largest integrated markets estimated at US$6bn in 2014 and growing rapidly​,” said Daniel Quek, president of the Health Supplements Industry Association of Singapore (HSIAS).

”We expect the creation of the single market in health supplements to stimulate further increases of investment and employment in Asean countries through the activities of health supplement companies​,” said Ric Hobby, chairman of the International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplement Associations (Iadsa), the industry group. 

“In addition, we expect that through the agreement of common standards consumers across Asean can increasingly gain the health benefits that supplements can provide​”.