Products
Health Supplements
How supplements are regulated in New Zealand
Health supplements such as vitamins, minerals, fish oil, probiotics, and herbal products are regulated under the Dietary Supplements Regulations 1985.
New Zealand is planning to update regulations under a new “Natural Health Products” framework.
Supplements are regulated by Medsafe and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).
Supplements can make general health-support claims (e.g., “supports heart health”)
but cannot claim to cure or treat diseases (those would be medicines).
Products do not require pre-approval like medicines.
Popular types of health supplements in New Zealand
Common supplements sold in NZ include:
Multivitamins
Vitamin D, Calcium, Magnesium
Omega-3 / Fish Oil (very popular)
Probiotics
Herbal supplements
Joint support (glucosamine, chondroitin)
Bone health supplements
Immune support formulas
These products are widely sold in:
Chemist Warehouse
Countdown / New World
Health 2000
Online stores
Important things to know
Because supplements are not pre-approved:
The quality and actual ingredient amounts may vary between brands.
Companies must not make strong medical claims.
Overuse of certain vitamins (A, D, iron, etc.) can cause health issues.
Supplements should be used as support, not as a replacement for real food.
Experts recommend:
Focus on a balanced diet first
Use supplements only to fill nutritional gaps
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