Dietary Supplements: Market Boom and Call for Strengthened Regulation

Algeria's dietary supplement market is booming, reflecting a national shift towards wellness and natural living. Fueled by evolving consumer preferences, the online marketplace, and a growing desire for health-focused products, supplements for weight management, immunity, sports performance, and energy are now ubiquitous, appearing in pharmacies and across digital platforms.

However, this economic surge is shadowed by serious concerns. Reports of non-compliant products, hazardous concoctions, deceptive advertising, clandestine manufacturing, and a stark absence of traceability plague the industry. These issues have prompted calls for more rigorous regulation and consumer protection.

“

The dietary supplement sector represents today a market with strong economic potential.

In response, the Algerian Association for Consumer Protection and Guidance (Apoce) organized a significant study day in Algiers. The event convened a diverse group of experts—specialists, industry professionals, institutional representatives, control experts, doctors, pharmacists, and economic actors—all united by the goal of fostering a more structured and tightly regulated market. Mustapha Zebdi, president of Apoce, highlighted the sector's substantial economic potential, estimating the Algerian market at nearly $400 million with significant growth prospects, particularly post-COVID-19.

The pandemic indeed accelerated demand for immune-boosting and nutritional supplements, embedding them firmly in consumer habits. Specialists see this sector as a vital economic lever capable of diversifying the national economy and potentially driving exports of locally manufactured goods. Yet, this growth is hampered by a regulatory vacuum, insufficient oversight, a burgeoning informal market, and a lack of clear industry structure. The proliferation of dangerous products, often promoted through social media with "miracle cure" claims, remains a critical concern, with Apoce investigations revealing alarming practices.

“

Investigations and analyses carried out by Apoce have revealed alarming practices.