Importing Korean Health Supplements & Nutraceuticals to India

Korean health products — red ginseng, collagen, vitamins, and functional foods — are increasingly popular in India. These fall under the FSSAI's nutraceuticals and health supplements regulations, which are stricter than ordinary food.

The Regulatory Category

Health supplements and nutraceuticals are governed by dedicated FSSAI regulations that specify permitted ingredients, allowed health claims, and maximum levels for vitamins, minerals, and botanicals.

Key Requirements

• An FSSAI Central Licence for the importer.
• Ingredients must appear on FSSAI's permitted lists; novel ingredients may need product approval.
• Health claims must be truthful and substantiated — exaggerated claims are a common rejection reason.
• Compliant labeling with dosage, warnings, and "not for medicinal use" style disclaimers where applicable.

Ingredient Watch-Outs

Some botanicals and additives permitted in Korea are restricted in India, and certain products may border on the "drug" category, pulling them under CDSCO instead of FSSAI. Classification should be confirmed before import.

Practical Path

Screen each product's formulation against Indian permitted lists first, fix labels and claims, then import under the FSSAI Central Licence.

Statura's Korea Desk reviews formulations, secures the FSSAI licence, and clarifies FSSAI vs CDSCO classification for Korean supplement brands.