Do supplements need SAHPRA registration to be sold in South Africa?

Q: Do supplements need SAHPRA registration to be sold in South Africa?

Not sports supplements sold as foods. As of October 2026, protein powder, creatine, BCAAs and collagen with compliant labels and no medicinal claims need no product registration in South Africa. If a product is positioned as a complementary medicine or health supplement, the business needs a SAHPRA licence and a disclaimer, but SAHPRA has registered no such products yet.

Do protein powders and creatine need SAHPRA approval?

No. Sports supplements such as protein powder, creatine, BCAAs and collagen are normally sold as foodstuffs under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act. Foodstuffs have no pre-market registration: the seller is responsible for safety, composition and a compliant label under R146. Product-registration (pre-market approval) is not required, and "not registered" does not mean illegal. A brand that wrote "SAHPRA approved" on a tub should raise suspicion.

When does SAHPRA get involved?

Product type	SAHPRA role
Sports food with no medicinal claims	None for registration; foods are a Department of Health and municipal matter
Positioned as a complementary medicine or "health supplement" (vitamins, minerals, amino acids, probiotics)	Business must hold a SAHPRA licence; unregistered products carry the prescribed disclaimer; registration awaits call-ups that had not begun by August 2026
Claims to treat, cure or prevent disease, or contains a scheduled substance	Treated as a medicine; registration required
Imported complementary medicines	Importer needs a SAHPRA licence

The boundary is not clear. After the 2022 Supreme Court of Appeal ruling (Minister of Health v Alliance of Natural Health Products SA), the line between a food and a health supplement for products such as creatine or single amino acids is unsettled, and final regulations had not been published by mid-2026. Spotlight's August 2026 commentary describes the situation as one in which complementary medicines are not effectively regulated in practice. See what Category D means.

Where can you check a company?

SAHPRA publishes a list of licensed complementary-medicine businesses (about 117 entries as of the time of the research), not a list of registered products. So you can check whether a company is licensed, but you cannot check that a product is registered, because none are. Foods are checked in a different way: look for a compliant label with the manufacturer or importer's name and South African address, batch number and date marking.

Do imports need permits?

Imported foodstuffs are inspected by Port Health and labels are checked against R146. Dairy-derived whey and bovine collagen usually need a veterinary import permit from the Department of Agriculture, often with health certificates. Exact requirements for a specific product should be confirmed with the authorities (importing supplements).

What should consumers look for instead?

A compliant label (R146) with ingredients, allergens, net quantity, country of origin, batch and expiry.
No disease claims. A supplement should not say it treats, cures or prevents anything.
Third-party batch testing if you are drug-tested (Informed Sport explained).
Published certificates of analysis for contaminants where available.

Bottom line

For most sports supplements, registration is not the relevant test of quality. A product can be fully compliant with the food law and still be poor value or mislabelled, as the University of Pretoria protein audit showed. For a wider look, read are supplements regulated in South Africa and R146 labelling rules.

Educational information, not medical advice. Speak to a doctor, pharmacist or registered dietitian before using supplements if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, under 18, taking medication, or living with kidney, liver or heart disease. Prices were observed in October 2026 and are not offers.