David Pineda Ereño, IADSA's manager of regulatory affairs, told NutraIngredients.com that IADSA has also been providing advice and information to the Chinese government on regulatory models employed in other countries.

Supplements are currently regulated as foods in China, and are subject to a registration system. But Ereno said that the Chinese government is working on improving regulations, and may consider a European-style notification system.

IADSA has been involved in discussions over regulations in China since 2005, when it held a workshop in the country. However Ereño said the direction that the national government will take is not yet clear, and the next meeting has yet to be scheduled.

"Once the Chinese government is ready to speak to use, we will know more."

As in many other countries, good manufacturing practices are probably one of the main the topics of debate. "Quality is a major issue," said Ereño – and this holds true not just for China but all across the globe.

IADSA has already communicated some developments in the Asian market place this year – such as the publication of its report on bioactive levels in foods has been translated into Japanese.

It is also holding a regulatory workshop in Yokahama, Japan, in April with the aim of bringing regulators, policy and scientific experts from around the globe to share ideas and identify areas where regulation is not yet complete.

In India, the Food Safety and Standards Act was adopted in 2006, which recognises supplements as food products. "Priority action" is said to be underway over implementation.

The end of last year saw the route towards harmonisation in supplements regulations between the ASEAN countries grow clearer, as the AAHSA (ASEAN Alliance of Health Supplements Associations) was granted a seat at the negotiating table.

Representing 57 national trade associations, IADSA aims to help build regulatory systems where the guidelines are appropriate to the specific nature of supplement products.

"If we are able to achieve this, governments will have reduced healthcare costs and consumers will have wider access to safe and beneficial products," said IADSA chairman Randy Dennin.