Private label supplements can be profitable, easy to start, and a win-win for your business and clients. But don’t confuse the partial insurance coverage from your private label supplier for full coverage needed as a vendor of third-party products. Your liability insurance does not cover your own car if someone hits you. The responsible driver’s liability insurance will however cover any damages to your vehicle, because liability only pays for damages the policyholder causes to others and their property.
The Importance of Insurance and Regulation
In general, most supplements will need some form of insurance in order to be sold, whether that is product liability insurance, professional indemnity insurance, or both. When pondering "what license do you need to sell supplements," understand that this regulatory environment helps to ensure that dietary supplements are safe, properly labeled, and effective. As regulations applied to dietary supplements differ from those applicable to conventional drugs and food products, supplement manufacturers are legally bound to meet all the rules and guidelines set up by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act 1994 (DSHEA) and FDA.
To summarize, to sell supplements both through offline and online channels, you do not require a license. However, you need to follow a set of rules to set up an incorporated business and use ingredients approved by the FDA. You probably won’t need to contribute as much to the bucket as the manufacturer, but you will likely contribute. Let’s say, for example, as a result of a massive number of claims against a manufacturer for allegedly injuring scores of people, the manufacturer goes bankrupt and can’t contribute to the bucket. Who do you think will be called upon to contribute more than their fair share to that bucket, so as to fill it?
Who Can Sell Nutritional Supplements?
To summarize, regulations play a significant role in ensuring the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements and adherence to these regulations is essential for the manufacturer. Understanding the level of responsibility and potential financial contributions can impact businesses involved in the supplement industry when faced with unforeseen circumstances.