Supplements are increasingly attracting the attention of entrepreneurs, buyers, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Supplement fulfillment, which has grown in popularity over the last three decades, is expected to be a $278 billion industry by 2028. With the growing popularity of selling print on demand supplements online, business owners must pay attention to rules and regulations. All of this while providing an excellent customer experience.
CHALLENGES OF SELLING PRINT ON DEMAND SUPPLEMENTS ONLINE
1. Supplement Requirements
Combining business and health can present its own set of challenges. However, before diving in, it’s critical to understand the industry’s regulations and requirements, including understanding what a supplement is. Supplements are defined as products intended to supplement the average diet. Furthermore, it’s critical to pay close attention to the regulations governing the print on demand supplements you’re selling. In addition, the FDA requires you to ensure that the products you sell are correctly labeled. Working to ensure that you’re providing quality products that are safe and effective for your customers is a matter of integrity and transparency from there.
2. FDA Regulations
They distinguished between review and approval to keep both the customer’s safety and the company’s ability to sell in mind from the start. For example, if a product contains a new ingredient, the manufacturer must notify the FDA, and the product is reviewed for safety but not effectiveness. It’s important to remember that just because the FDA hasn’t approved a supplement doesn’t mean you can’t ship it or that it’s inherently dangerous. As a supplement retailer, your best bet is to offer products that the FDA has approved.
3. Registration
While businesses in the United States have a lot of leeways when it comes to selling online, it’s still important to make sure you’re running your supplement business responsibly. Manufacturers of supplements must register their entity under the FDA’s Bioterrorism Act before creating or selling supplements. In June 2007, the FDA published a detailed list of these regulations.
4. Labeling
When shipping dietary supplements, the label must include five items: a statement of identity, the net amount of the dietary supplement, nutrition labeling, an ingredient list, and the name and location of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor. In addition, labeling is about what’s on the label and where the information goes on the container. You must include all label requirements on the front label or the information panel. For a complete list of labeling requirements, visit the FDA’s Dietary Supplement Labeling Guide.
5. Good Manufacturing Practices
The manufacturing process is one area of the supplement industry that is highly regulated. The FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, Packaging, Labeling, or Holding Operations for Dietary Supplements (Dietary Supplement CGMP Rule) requires supplement manufacturers to follow specific procedures and recordkeeping to ensure regulatory compliance.
SUCCEEDING AS A SUPPLEMENT COMPANY
In the world of e-commerce, shipping supplements is somewhat unusual. One primary reason for this is the increasing number of products with limited testing entering the market. However, with all of the moving parts that come with print on demand fulfillment, it’s easy for businesses to fall foul of industry regulations. It is due, in large part, to the fact that dealing with regulatory information is intimidating. Companies large and small will attract the attention of regulatory entities as the industry grows, so it’s critical to remember the information below. While the step-by-step process for selling supplements online may appear tedious at first, the pay-off is well worth it.
CONCLUSION
It is not illegal to sell supplements over the internet. Failure to adhere to FDA standards, on the other hand, can result in more than a slap on the wrist. Small online businesses don’t just make mistakes; major corporations frequently fail to follow FDA regulations as well. However, the cost of failing to comply with the necessary regulations is far greater than the cost of a few returns and disgruntled customers; it could cost you your reputation and your business.
Fulfillplex is a top eCommerce fulfillment company specializing in print on demand nutraceuticals, making us the ideal partner for your supplement business; feel free to contact us if you want to learn more.