Turn over almost any supplement sold in the Philippines and you will find the same phrase: “No Approved Therapeutic Claims”. It is easy to skim past. It is also the most honest sentence on the box.
The meaning
What the phrase actually says
It means the product is registered with FDA Philippines as a food supplement, not as a medicine. It may be sold, but the FDA has not approved it to treat, cure, prevent or diagnose any disease. On the FDA’s own records, these products are listed as “Registered as Food Supplement with NO APPROVED THERAPEUTIC CLAIMS”.
Only products registered as drugs can make therapeutic claims, and only the ones printed on their approved labels.
Where it comes from
A rule that has been around for decades
The requirement for food supplement labels to carry the phrase dates back to at least FDA Circular No. 2 of 1999, and the FDA has repeated it in advisories since. Late in 2025, compliance summaries of FDA Advisory No. 2025-1552 reported the agency reinforcing the label statement, adding a precaution for products not suitable for children or pregnant and breastfeeding women, and requiring a Filipino warning in advertising that the product is not a medicine.
We describe the 2025 advisory from published compliance summaries. Check the FDA website for the full text.
Spot the contradiction
Claims a food supplement should not make
When a listing for a supplement registered “with no approved therapeutic claims” says any of the following, it is going beyond what its own registration allows:
- 01“Cures” or “treats”Diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, kidney disease, arthritis, or any named illness.
- 02“Prevents” disease“Prevents colds”, “protects against infection”, “keeps viruses away”.
- 03“Replaces your medicine”Any suggestion to stop or reduce prescribed medication.
- 04“Boosts immunity” as a promiseCommon on vitamin C and zinc listings. Many sellers use it; on a food supplement it overreaches.
In our vitamin C review, one listing printed both “Boost your immunity” and “This product has no approved therapeutic claims” in the same description.
The good news
Why it is a sign of honesty, not weakness
A supplement that carries the statement clearly, and whose listing stays within it, is telling you the truth about what it is. In our scoring, a listing that admits a limitation earns points. Supplements can be genuinely useful for filling gaps in your diet. They are just not medicine.
Common questions
Does "No Approved Therapeutic Claims" mean the product is fake?
No. It means the product is registered as a food supplement rather than a medicine. Legitimate supplements carry it.
Can a supplement be effective if it has no approved therapeutic claims?
It can still provide nutrients, such as vitamin C. What it may not do is claim to treat or prevent disease.
Which products can make therapeutic claims?
Products registered as drugs, using only the indications approved on their labels. Check the registration number prefix: drug numbers start with DR-, DRP- or similar.
Where do I report a supplement making cure claims?
You can report to FDA Philippines through its official website. Include the listing link and screenshots.
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