CODEX Guidelines on Vitamin and Mineral Supplements
(June 2005)
Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) is the international food standards setting body whose nutrition committee has proposed draft Guidelines for Vitamin and Mineral Food Supplements for final adoption by the Commission in July 2005 . The Codex Guidelines refer to vitamin and mineral food supplements because some countries regulate vitamin and mineral supplements available in capsule and other dosage forms as foods.
In Australia, vitamin and mineral supplements are regulated as complementary medicines under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) administers these requirements. More detail on the regulation of complementary medicines by TGA can be found at http://www.tga.gov.au/cm/cm.htm .
In New Zealand, vitamin and mineral supplements are regulated as dietary supplements under the Dietary Supplements Regulations 1985. The details on dietary supplement regulation in New Zealand can be found at the website of the New Zealand Food Safety Authority: http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/labelling-composition/publications/regulation-of-food-in-nz/index.htm#P20_2658 .
Considerable concern has been raised in the Australian community about the impact of these Guidelines on current arrangements. A joint statement from the Hon Warren Truss and the Hon Christopher Pyne has been released, which mentions that the Codex Guidelines will be confined to those countries that regulate vitamin and mineral supplements as food, and therefore will not affect Australia. The joint statement can be found at www.codexaustralia.gov.au . A copy of the draft Codex Guidelines are also provided below in the attachment.
ALINORM 05/28/26 page 42
Appendix II