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'''Dietary supplements''' are products legally considered as food. In Germany, they are subject to the [http://www.psiram.com/ge/index.php?title=Nahrungsergänzungsmittelverordnung Dietary supplement Regulation] (Nahrungsergänzungsmittelverordnung, NemV) and therefore are always governed by the laws regulating food [http://www.psiram.com/ge/index.php?title=LFGB LFGB] and are thus not supposed to have medical effects, work as remedies or prevent illness. In the EU, they must correspond to guideline 2002/46/EG. According to German law, it is not legal for dietary supplements to develop pharmaceutical effects, or to market them with the according claim. They have no major role in human biological [http://www.psiram.com/ge/index.php?title=Bioenergetik bioenergetics]. Their use does not counterbalance the effects of long-term malnutrition. The two terms "dietary supplement" and "functional food" overlap partially.

'''Dietary supplements''' are products legally considered as food. In Germany, they are subject to the [http://www.psiram.com/ge/index.php?title=Nahrungsergänzungsmittelverordnung Dietary Supplement Regulation] (Nahrungsergänzungsmittelverordnung, NemV) and therefore always governed by the laws regulating food [http://www.psiram.com/ge/index.php?title=LFGB LFGB], and are thus not supposed to have medical effects, work as remedies or prevent illness. In the EU, they must correspond to guideline 2002/46/EG. According to German law, it is not legal for dietary supplements to develop pharmaceutical effects, or to market them with according claims. They have no major role in human biological [http://www.psiram.com/ge/index.php?title=Bioenergetik bioenergetics]. Their use does not counterbalance the effects of long-term malnutrition. The two terms "dietary supplement" and "functional food" overlap partially.

In the USA, dietary supplements are over-the-counter(OTC)-products, i.e. they may be sold in regular shops without prescription. However, the US-American regulations are more liberal than the German ones: A lot of products sold legally as OTC in the States are regarded as pharmaceutical drugs liable to registration. In the USA, the "Food & Drugs Administration" (FDA) is responsible for their registration.

In the USA, dietary supplements are over-the-counter(OTC) products, i.e. they may be sold in regular shops without prescription. However, US-American regulations are more liberal than the German ones: A lot of products sold legally as OTC in the States are regarded as pharmaceutical drugs liable to registration. In the USA, the "Food & Drugs Administration" (FDA) is responsible for their registration.

Dietary supplements are often packaged mimicking pharmaceuticals so that laypersons cannot clearly tell them apart from drugs. This can lead to confusion. In particular cases, even experts may have difficulties to distinguish them from pharmaceuticals, judging substances and concentration contained in such products.

Dietary supplements are often packaged mimicking pharmaceuticals so that laypersons cannot clearly tell them apart from drugs. This can lead to confusion. In particular cases, even experts may have difficulties to distinguish them from pharmaceuticals, judging substances and concentration contained in such products.

Dietary supplements are a typical domain of [http://www.psiram.com/ge/index.php?title=MLM Multi-Level-Marketing] (MLM) and the specific methods of advertisement and marketing applied there. Drastic differences in price for the same active substance are not uncommon with dietary supplements. They are frequently used in the body building sector and respective gyms, but can also be found in competitive sports. Dietary supplements are also a corner stone of [http://www.psiram.com/ge/index.php?title=Orthomolekulare_Medizin orthomolecular medicine].

Dietary supplements are a typical domain of [http://www.psiram.com/ge/index.php?title=MLM Multi-Level-Marketing] (MLM) and the specific methods of advertisement and marketing applied there. Drastic differences in price for the same active substance are not uncommon with dietary supplements. They are frequently used in the body building sector and respective gyms, but can also be found in competitive sports. Dietary supplements are also a corner stone of [http://www.psiram.com/ge/index.php?title=Orthomolekulare_Medizin orthomolecular medicine].

In Germany, dietary supplements are generally bought by an elder clientele: 50% of Germans aged 55 and above use them on a daily basis.

In Germany, dietary supplements are largely bought by an elder clientele: 50% of Germans aged 55 and above use them on a daily basis.

In Germany, the industry producing dietary supplements operates a lobby group called "NEM Verband mittelständischer europäischer Hersteller und Distributoren von Nahrungsergänzungsmitteln & Gesundheitsprodukten" to represent their interests. It is currently headed by Manfred Scheffler who is also managing partner of Plantafood. The association makes use of the marketing slogan "Freiheit für gesunde Nahrung" (freedom for healthy food) on the internet. One of their aims is the "abolishment of 'Abmahnvereine' [associations founded to observe compliance with anticompetition regulations], and consumer protection should be entirely in the hands of an institute in which entrepreneurs, scientists, and consumers are equally represented (political parties are excluded)".

In Germany, the industry producing dietary supplements operates a lobby group called "NEM Verband mittelständischer europäischer Hersteller und Distributoren von Nahrungsergänzungsmitteln & Gesundheitsprodukten" to represent their interests. It is currently headed by Manfred Scheffler who also is a managing partner of Plantafood. The association makes use of the marketing slogan "Freiheit für gesunde Nahrung" (freedom for healthy food) on the internet. One of their aims is the "abolishment of 'Abmahnvereine' [associations founded to observe compliance with anticompetition regulations], and consumer protection should be entirely in the hands of an institute in which entrepreneurs, scientists, and consumers are equally represented (political parties are excluded)".

==Definition (Germany)==

==Definition (Germany)==

In Germany, dietary supplements are de jure food and therefore subject to the LFGB (Lebensmittel- und Futtergesetzbuch, Food and animal feed code). Dietary supplements, in particular, are foodstuffs with nutritional or physiological effects meant to complement a regular diet. They are sold in the form of capsules, lozenges, tablets, pills, ampoules containing liquids, or bottles containing small amounts. Legal substances are listed in the addendum 1 of Nahrungsergänzungsmittelverordnung (NemV, Dietary supplement Regulations).

In Germany, dietary supplements de jure are food and therefore subject to the LFGB (Lebensmittel- und Futtergesetzbuch, Food and Animal Feed Code). Dietary supplements, in particular, are foodstuffs with nutritional or physiological effects meant to complement a regular diet. They are sold in the form of capsules, lozenges, tablets, pills, ampoules containing liquids, or bottles containing small amounts. Legal substances are listed in the addendum 1 of Nahrungsergänzungsmittelverordnung (NemV, Dietary Supplement Regulations).