Potential bans for popular ingredients via the Article 8 procedure, the ongoing saga of vitamin and mineral maximum level harmonization and new product trends are just some of the talking points highlighted by HBW Insight’s panel of food supplements experts in response to the question: What will 2026 be the year of?
Luca Bucchini, Managing Director, Hylobates Consulting
More suspense on maximum permitted limits for vitamins and minerals in food supplements.
2025 seemed to be the year where we would see clarity on whether the European Commission could muster the will and consensus to legislate on cross-EU maximum levels of vitamins and minerals in supplements. Delays and procrastination, political pressures and re-organization has indeed marked 2025 on this respect. But the clock is ticking for the Commission, and 2026 needs to be the make or break year. And if the Commission procrastinates further or gives up? Expect some Member States to do their best to fragment the single market for ideological rather than safety reasons.
Clarity on the real intention of the European Commission in terms of the single market.
The European Commission has set itself a Mission Impossible goal with two contradictory objectives: strengthen the single market, but do less as a guardian of the single market when Member States defy the single market rules. Some Member States are asking if they can get away with more national rules, more arcane administrative practices, more rules to require expensive local representation. In 2026, we will see if the Commission is as good as Tom Cruise on impossible missions.
Truth for the Article 8 process for botanicals and other substances.
Different views on how to assess and regulate botanicals in food supplements across different countries and industries in Europe have taken the shape of sharp disagreements and court cases over the so-called Article 8 which allows the EU to limit or ban some substances including botanicals. Experts, scientists, regulators disagree on almost everything related to this process. The General Court of the EU has sided with those opposing such bans; the Commission has appealed. But whether the Court of Justice delivers the final verdict, we will observe how European regulators deal with pending prohibition files.
More alignment between the EU and the UK for the food supplement sector.
Like tectonic plates, the EU and UK are drifting closer on food supplements within the general process of alignment. 2026 may bring a deal, but the direction of travel has too much logic and consensus to doubt progress (though I should say recent years have taught us to be cautious with any prediction).
Checking the speed of novel food applications.
Everyone complains about the speed of the novel food authorization process in Europe, though some will start to appreciate that at least it is science-based and politicians do not have a say. EFSA is promising to change pace. We will see if this is the case, and whether EFSA has the resources to deliver.
Jérôme Le Bloch, Head of Scientific Affairs, FoodChain ID
2026 will be the year of regulatory clarification.
After several years marked by uncertainty, 2026 may well become a turning point for the European food supplements sector.
On several key dossiers, long-awaited clarification is expected rather than new legislation. This includes, first, progress towards the harmonization of maximum levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements, an issue that has remained unresolved since the adoption of Directive 2002/46/EC and continues to create market fragmentation across Member States. This harmonization may have a deep impact on the sector, as the currently proposed levels for nutrients are dramatically reduced, mainly for minerals.
2026 could also see the finalization of pending measures under Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 on the addition of substances to foods. This notably concerns substances such as berberine, hydroxycitric acid, and fennel seed preparations. In parallel, a new wave of Article 8 measures covering additional substances is expected, which will further structure the regulatory landscape and reduce the current grey zones.
Even if EFSA opinions will be available in several years, these new safety assessments will be important, as they will clarify the way the European Commission consider these ingredients. The forthcoming decision from the Court of Justice of the European Union on the hydroxyatracenic derivatives, including on the legality and proportionality of certain Article 8 measures, will have an impact on all market restrictions linked to these safety assessment.
Ultimately, these developments may contribute to a more mature, science-driven and legally robust food supplements market, benefiting both responsible operators and consumer trust. These changes are already visible, and demonstrate the ability of the food supplement sector to cope with changes and regulatory constraints.
Matevž Ambrožič, Marketing & PR Director, PharmaLinea
A few clear shifts are happening across the industry, and they’re poised to define 2026.
Once viewed primarily as a sports nutrition ingredient, creatine is rapidly moving into mainstream wellbeing, being featured in products addressing cognition, women’s health, healthy aging, and metabolic support. Hydration is similarly evolving, solidifying its place as a lifestyle category.
Cellular health and longevity will continue to expand, however, in 2026 the real differentiator will be brands that justify the premium positioning with credible biomarkers and a stronger consumer feedback loop. We also expect the industry to lean harder into premium all-in-one subscription formats, growing interest in emerging frontiers such as plant-derived exosomes, and sustained momentum in influencer driven categories such as colostrum and science-backed women’s botanicals.
The brands that stand out in 2026 won’t just sell formulas; they’ll create experiences and daily rituals that make supplementation intuitive, effortless, and habitual.
Mari Eskola, PhD, Team Leader of Regulatory Science and Reports, Medfiles
2026 will be the year of regulatory updates in the EU.
- The proposal for a BioTech Act will extend the general food law where EFSA’s scientific remit will be extended from its EU risk assessment body on food and feed safety activities to nutrition. This is proposed because of the increasing prevalence of diet-related health issues. This Act also proposes broadening and unifies pre-submission advice from EFSA, including scientific advice on study design and testing strategies.
- The second part of BioTech Act is to be released by the end of 2026
- The proposal for a Food and Feed Safety Simplification Omnibus aims to reduce administrative burdens while maintaining high standards for human, animal, and environmental health. It will clarify that food obtained using genetically modified microorganisms as production strains are not considered “produced from GMOs” when the GMM is not present in the final product, and any residues are limited to non-viable cells, minimized through good manufacturing practice, and have no technological effect on the food.
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Article originally published in Citeline Commercial: Food Supplements in 2026: What Will Shape The European Market This Year?
Author: Tom Gallen (Managing Editor, HBW Insight, Citeline)
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