Independent Shilajit research · evidence · testing · reviews
UK
In the UK, shilajit is generally sold as a food supplement. That means food law applies: products must be safe, correctly labelled and within legal contaminant limits, and marketing may only use authorised health claims. This hub explains who regulates what, and links to our UK guides on legality, claims, prices, buying and your rights.
| Area | What applies | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Legal category | Food supplement: sold prepacked, in dose form, with specific labelling | Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003[1] |
| Heavy metals | Lead 3.0, cadmium 1.0, mercury 0.1 mg/kg as sold (Great Britain) | Retained contaminants regulation[2] |
| Health claims | Only claims authorised on the GB nutrition and health claims register | GB NHC register; CAP Code[3][4] |
| Medicinal claims | Claims to treat or prevent disease can bring a product under medicines law | MHRA borderline guidance[5] |
| Northern Ireland | Food supplement law is covered by the Windsor Framework and an NI or EU business address is required | FSA guidance[6] |
No single body “approves” shilajit products. Responsibility is split by issue.
Food law
Local food authorities enforce the food supplements regulations in their area;[1] FSA guidance says sellers must register as a food business with their local authority.[6]
Advertising
The CAP Code limits health claims in marketing to authorised wording, including online and social media ads.[4]
Medicines
Decides whether a product’s claims or ingredients make it a medicine,[5] and runs the Yellow Card scheme for suspected side effects.[7]
Sport
Advises athletes to use batch-tested supplements, because strict liability applies to anything in their system.[8]
These come straight from the rules above.
No. Food supplements don’t need product-by-product approval before sale (novel ingredients are the exception), but the business must register and comply with food law. See is shilajit legal in the UK?
Convert to cost per gram and per serving with the calculator, then compare like with like on UK prices.
Adverts go to the ASA; safety or labelling issues to your local Trading Standards or the FSA; suspected side effects to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme. See reporting a problem.
Primary research, regulators and standards bodies are cited first. A source being listed here does not mean it supports every claim made by sellers; it supports the specific statement it is attached to.
