Taipei, Aug. 30 (CNA) The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has drafted new regulations that health supplements must be clearly labeled "non-medicine" and cannot be promoted as having curative effects, as part of an effort to stem false advertising.
The draft rules, which could come into force as early as Jan. 1, 2018, stipulate that health supplement packaging must contain wording that indicates the product is not "medicine" and stipulates it provides "no curative effect."
Another proposed rule indicates that products in tablet or capsules form should be labeled "non-medicine for the use of health care only."
In addition, the wording "people suffering from an illness should consult a physician" is also set to feature on packaging.
Further instructions will remind consumers to follow instructions on product use, including recommended amounts, according to the draft regulations published on Wednesday.
The rules are being introduced to stop unscrupulous businesses from selling health supplements as medicine, a common practice in Taiwan over the past few years, FDA division chief Chou Pei-ju said.
"Some dietary supplements have been sold as weight control drugs. Also businesses have claimed food products made of vegetable extracts can treat diseases like cancer," said Chou, "such advertisements mislead people."
Currently more than 400 kinds of healths supplements are sold in Taiwan, Chou explained, some are in the forms of capsules, tablets or powder. There are also health products such as formula milk powder, yogurt, drinking vinegar, chicken extract and clam extract.
Unless producers of such food supplements can present scientific evidence to conclusively back up claims that their product "protects the liver" or "regulates blood fat," such assertions will be prohibited, Chou said.
The official noted that the new regulations are scheduled to come into force on Jan. 1, 2018.
From Wednesday the draft rules will be open for public review and comments for a period of 60 days, with those interested encouraged to contact related government agencies through mail or online comments.
The FDA's website and the National Development Council online platform for public opinions on government policies both accept comments from members of the public, according to Chou.
Businesses that receive an FDA permit to market their health supplements before the date the new rules become law will be given a six-month grace period to correct the labeling of their products, Chou said.
Once the rules come into force, those found to be in violation will be fined between NT$30,000 (US$995) and NT$150,000, she added.
