What can a supplement or food label claim in Malaysia?
A food label in Malaysia may only make the nutrition and function claims listed in the Food Regulations 1985, such as the nutrient function claims in the Fifth A Schedule, and never a medical claim. A health supplement registered with NPRA can carry claims at three levels: general, functional and disease risk reduction, each needing more evidence than the last.
Food labels: only the listed claims
If your product is sold as food or drink, its claims are set by the Food Regulations 1985. The current text, updated in August 2026, splits claims into six regulations:
| Regulation | Covers |
|---|---|
| 18A | Claims on the label in general |
| 18B | Nutrition labelling (the nutrition panel) |
| 18C | Nutrient content claims, such as "high in calcium" |
| 18D | Nutrient comparative claims, such as "less sugar" |
| 18E | Nutrient function claims |
| 18F | Other function claims |
A few rules catch new brands most often:
- Function claims come from a list. Only the nutrient function claims in Table III of the Fifth A Schedule may be used, each with a minimum amount of the nutrient, for example "Calcium helps in the development of strong bones and teeth" (regulation 18E). Other function claims, for ingredients such as beta glucan, are in Table IV (regulation 18F). Anything else needs the Director's written approval first.
- Some words are off limits. A food label may not use the words "medicated", "tonic" or "health" unless the regulations allow it (regulation 18(3)).
- No medical claims, and no unproven ones. A food label may not claim to act on a disease or disorder, or make a claim that cannot be substantiated (regulation 18(6)).
The Ministry of Health's 2023 labelling guideline explains these rules with examples. It says itself that it is guidance, not law.
Health supplements: three claim levels
If your product is registered with NPRA as a health supplement, its claims are approved as part of registration. NPRA's guideline sets three levels:
| Level | Example from the guideline | What it needs |
|---|---|---|
| General | "Helps to maintain good health" | The lightest evidence |
| Functional | "Chondroitin helps to promote healthy joints" | Evidence for that ingredient and claim |
| Disease risk reduction | A claim to lower the risk of a named condition | Human studies, plus toxicology and pharmacology data |
Claims must not be medicinal or therapeutic. NPRA's Attachment 2 lists the allowed wording for specific ingredients, and a vitamin or mineral claim needs a minimum amount of that nutrient in each daily dose, set against the Codex nutrient reference value.
What this means for a product made with Athemin®
You can name Athemin® as the curcumin ingredient on your pack. What you cannot do is turn our studies into a claim for your product: our particle-size and laboratory reports describe the ingredient, not your finished product, and the label rules above decide what your pack may say. We check the label with you under the Food Regulations 1985, or plan the NPRA route if your product is a health supplement. For adverts and social media posts, read What can you say when you advertise a health product in Malaysia?
Sources
- Food Regulations 1985, regulations 18 and 18A to 18F, updated to P.U.(A) 48/2026, August 2026. hq.moh.gov.my
- Schedules to the Food Regulations 1985, Fifth A Schedule, Tables III and IV, updated August 2026. hq.moh.gov.my
- Ministry of Health, Food Safety and Quality Programme, Guideline on Labelling Requirement under Food Act 1983 and Regulations Thereunder, 2023, chapter 2 (nutrition labelling and claims). hq.moh.gov.my
- NPRA, Drug Registration Guidance Document, Appendix 6, Guideline on Registration of Health Supplements, 12th revision, July 2026, section 4.2 and Attachment 2. npra.gov.my