Is it true that BAAs are so popular?

In developed countries, the use of BAA (dietary supplements, nutritional supplements) and food with BAA (functional foods) is much more widespread. In the USA, for example, already in 1994, BAA was used by more than 50% of the population and there were around 600 businesses producing 4,000 items of these products in the country and the volume of sales of BAA and products containing them amounted to an incredible 11.1 billion dollars. By 1996, it has increased to 16.7 billion. The average annual increase of the sales therefore amounts to 10.9%, while it is anticipated that in the nearest future it will definitely not drop.
Following the USA, there are European countries where, in 1996, the volume of the sales amounted to 11.1 billion dollars, and in Japan, to 9.5 billion, with annual increase of 6.5% or 7.3%, respectively. The Japanese are clearly at the top in consumption of these products per capita – 76 dollars, while in the USA, the figure amounts to 62 dollars.

What is the legislative basis abroad for the existence of BAAs?

In most foreign countries, there are regulations regulating BAA distribution. In the USA, an ordinance of the Congress of the USA on the amendment of the Federal Act on Foodstuffs, Healing Preparations and Cosmetic Devices was passed on 25 October 1994 with the aim of stipulating standards in relation to food supplements (Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994). A number of organisations treat the issues of BAA use (dietary supplements, nutritional supplements) and food with BAA (functional foods). Major part of this work remains with the management of the FDА (Food and Drug Administration). FDА carries out quality control of production using a system of 12 independent companies with their registered offices in various regions of the country and carrying out an entire complex of works in the area of evaluation, certification, standardization and control. The commission for BAA works within the National Health Institute of the USA. There are bodies in the country controlling individual issues relating to BAA, for example, the appearance of the labels (see below). BAAs and products containing them are sold in specialised shops and departments of supermarkets and also in pharmacies.

In Germany, quality of BAA is regulated in two documents – the Regulation on Activities of Pharmacies and Regulations on Declaring Nutritional Values. In Austria, there is a concept of Verzehrproducte to characterise BAA (intermediary products between foodstuffs and medical preparations). They are sold subject to relevant certification. Legal regulations regulating procedure for handling BAAs are drafted also in Belgium, the Netherlands and Greece.

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