Why Many German Supplements Cannot Be Sold in Switzerland
Swiss law (SR 817.022.14) uses a closed positive list and maximum amounts. Many EU supplements exceed them or contain substances classified as medicines here.
The short answer: Many German food supplements cannot legally be sold in Switzerland. The reason is legal, not a matter of quality: the Swiss ordinance (SR 817.022.14) works with a closed positive list and binding maximum amounts for vitamins and minerals. Products that are permitted in the EU often exceed these limits — and some active ingredients are classified as medicines here.
Why Swiss law differs from EU law
In Switzerland, food supplements are legally foodstuffs, not medicines. They fall under food legislation (FSA, SR 817.0) and, in detail, under the FDHA Ordinance on Food Supplements (SR 817.022.14). Switzerland adopts EU law only autonomously — it is not bound by it and diverges at decisive points.
Since 1 July 2020, a model of binding maximum amounts per daily dose applies to vitamins and minerals. What is on the positive list is allowed; what is not on it, is not. New substances cannot simply be added. This closed system is the core of the difference: a product can be entirely legal in Germany and still not marketable in Switzerland.
Which products are affected
Two groups fail the test:
1. Over-dosed vitamin and mineral supplements. This is exactly where multivitamins and combination products are hit most often. Many formulas sold in the EU exceed the Swiss maximum amounts and are therefore not marketable.
2. Active ingredients that do not count as food in Switzerland. Several substances sold as supplements in EU countries are restricted or classified as medicines here:
| Substance | Status in Switzerland |
|---|---|
| Melatonin | Medicine (prescription/authorisation required), not freely sold as a supplement |
| Red yeast rice (monacolin K) | Not authorised as a supplement; acts like a statin |
| 5-HTP | Classified as a medicine |
| St John's wort (in effective doses) | Medicine |
| High-dose vitamin A | Not marketable above the permitted maximum |
This list is not exhaustive; it shows the principle: the Swiss framework is narrower. Ordering abroad online means leaving that framework.
What this means for private imports
A product ordered in Germany that is not marketable in Switzerland can be held back at import. Add to that the points that often cancel out the price advantage:
- Customs and import charges on shipments from abroad
- No Swiss legal basis: if there is a problem, foreign law applies and the cantonal food authority is not responsible
- No check against Swiss maximum amounts: the dosage is designed for a different legal space
A product formulated and sold in Switzerland avoids this uncertainty: it is designed against the Swiss framework, delivered without customs and without private import, and the price in CHF carries no 25–30 % import surcharge.
Where base One stands
base One is formulated in Switzerland and regularly available here — no foreign order, no customs. The formula uses active forms of each nutrient and deliberately avoids substances that hinder each other's absorption. Buying in Switzerland means buying within the Swiss framework.
A food supplement is no substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
Frequently asked questions
May I order food supplements from Germany to Switzerland?
Importing small quantities for personal use is generally possible, but not risk-free: if the product contains substances not authorised in Switzerland or exceeds the maximum amounts, it can be held at the border. Customs and import charges apply.
Why is my German multivitamin not available in Switzerland?
Most often because one or more doses exceed the Swiss maximum, or because an ingredient does not count as food here. Multivitamins and combination products are the most affected.
Is a Swiss product automatically safer?
Legally it can be checked against the Swiss framework: the positive list, maximum amounts and the cantonal food inspection apply. That is a different starting point from a direct import, for which no Swiss authority is responsible.
Sources
- FDHA Ordinance on Food Supplements, SR 817.022.14 (fedlex.admin.ch)
- Foodstuffs Act FSA, SR 817.0; Foodstuffs and Utility Articles Ordinance, SR 817.02 (fedlex.admin.ch)
- Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) — Food supplements (blv.admin.ch)
This article explains the legal situation in general terms and is not legal advice. The applicable ordinance text prevails.