Classification of functional foods being circulated on the market in Vietnam

The below contents do not contain the full and detailed information of the circular, but the information is extracted and summarized as a part of the circular on classifying functional foods including supplemented foods, health protection foods, medical foods, and foods used for special dietary uses.

Circular 43 classifies functional foods into 4 main groups including supplemented foods, health protection foods, medical foods, and foods used for special dietary uses.

1. Supplemented Food means ordinary food supplemented with micronutrients and other elements conducive to health such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, enzymes, probiotics, prebiotics, and other biologically active substances.

2. Health Supplement, Food Supplement, Dietary Supplement means the product made in the form of capsules, pellets, tablets, glues, granules, powder, liquid, and other processed forms containing one or combination of the following substances:

a) Vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, enzymes, probiotics, and other biologically active substances.

b) Active ingredients are naturally derived from animals, minerals, and plants through extraction, isolation, concentration, and metabolism processes.

3. Food for Special Medical Purposes or Medical Food means food administered orally or with feeding tubes that are designated to regulate the patient’s diet and are only used under the supervision of health workers.

4. Food for Special Dietary Uses for dieters, the elderly, and other special users prescribed by The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CODEX) means food processed or blended according to special formulae to meet the requirements of particular diets suitable for certain physical or medical conditions and disorders of users. The composition of this food is distinctly different from that of other ordinary foods having the same nature if any.

Reference to Article 4, Circular 43/2014/TT-BYT, the following products must be tested for effects on human health at the organizations licensed to do scientific research in medicine:

– The products with claimed therapeutic effects (i.e., to aid in the treatment of diseases);

– The products have new effects which have not been recognized by other countries;

– The products having new active ingredients which have not been permitted;

– Health supplements put on the market for the first time have different formulae from those of other products having scientific evidence.

– The products are derived from plants or animals and put on the market for the first time, the composition of which is different from that of the traditional medicines published in academic journals.

– Medical foods and foods for special dietary uses which have not been permitted by competent authorities or authorized agencies or law of the country of origin, or the effects, suitable users, and usage on the label have not been confirmed by the exporting country.