Prescription advice for supplements

Hyderabad: The Drugs Technical Advisory Board of the Drug Controller General of India has set up a committee to determine whether vitamins, supplements and novel foods should be treated as health supplements or as drugs.

Vitamins and supplements are considered drugs under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. A section of the food industry, however, does not accept this and says the line is blurred between drugs and food supplements.

Mr Rahul Aggarwal, a consumer activist, said, “Food supplements or vitamins can’t be sold without prescription.”

Supplements are known to enhance immunity, improve well-being and aid in faster recovery from illness. Hence their use must be properly defined.

With a large number of lifestyle products in the market for fitness freaks to build up endurance levels, prescriptions for these must be monitored, it was stated.

The draft notification of the government has been objected to by a lot of individuals, consumer groups and also forums as it is not good for the health of the people.