Menopause supplements: what a brand can formulate and claim
Women's health is one of the fastest-growing supplement categories in French pharmacies, and menopause is taking a growing share. Women want clear products, and brands want to serve them. One question comes up with every founder we work with: what can go into the formula, and above all, what can go on the box?
- No EU-authorised health claim mentions menopause or its symptoms.
- Vitamin B6 "contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity": the closest authorised claim to the topic.
- Bones, tiredness, skin: vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, zinc and B vitamins carry authorised claims relevant at this age.
- Botanicals (sage, hops, red clover) fall under claims still on hold: to be checked formula by formula.
- Irati Production manufactures these formulas in Saumur, France, as capsules, tablets, powders in stick packs and pectin-based gummies.
What the regulation says
Health claims are governed by Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. A brand may only use the wordings on the EU list, under the set conditions, in particular a sufficient amount of the ingredient in the daily dose. None of these claims mentions hot flushes, menopause-related sleep or female hormonal balance. A pack that promises to "relieve menopause symptoms" is therefore outside the rules.
The word menopause can, however, describe who the product is for, just as one writes "for women over 50". The distinction is subtle: you say who the product is for, not what it treats.
Ingredients and their authorised claims
These claims must be used word for word, and only if the daily dose provides at least 15% of the reference value for the vitamin or mineral concerned.
What about botanicals?
Sage, hops, red clover, maca and evening primrose appear in many formulas on the market. Their claims are still "on hold" at EU level. Their use depends on authorised plant lists and national rules. Our regulatory team checks them one by one before approving a formula or a label.
Which dosage form to choose
A woman already taking several products a day appreciates a simple routine. Capsules suit botanical-rich formulas: we make them in sizes 1, 0 and 00, with vegetable or gelatin shells. A tablet can combine many actives in a single serving. Powders in stick packs dissolve in a morning drink. Pectin-based gummies suit shorter formulas, led by vitamins and minerals.
What we do in Saumur
Our 5,000 m² factory makes all four forms, with 3 capsule machines, 2 tablet presses and 4 mixing rooms. We work from our standard white label formulas or on a formula developed by our R&D team for your brand. The site is ISO 22000 certified, follows HACCP and is FDA registered. We check the formula, the dosages and the label before the first production run.
Frequently asked questions
Can a food supplement say "menopause" on the pack?
Yes, to say who it is for. No, to promise an effect on symptoms: no authorised claim allows it.
Which claim can be used for hormonal balance?
The only authorised one is for vitamin B6: "contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity", with at least 15% of the reference value per day.
Does Irati Production manufacture menopause supplements?
Yes. We manufacture them in Saumur, France, as capsules, tablets, powders in stick packs and pectin-based gummies, and we check the claims before launch.
The information in this article is general and does not constitute regulatory advice. Each formula undergoes a technical and regulatory feasibility study.