A food supplement as a foodstuff, used in a specific form by virtue of its intended use, is subject to food law. The definition of a food supplement in Directive 2002/46/EC implies a distinction between food supplements and medicinal products, i.e. a product having the characteristics of a medicinal product is not a food supplement.
Many products combine the characteristics of medical devices, medicinal products, food supplements, cosmetics and biocides to form the so-called borderline product group. Inappropriate qualification of a product may result in a decision by the supervisory authorities to suspend/withdraw it from the market.