The Indian nutraceutical industry came together at NUTRAVISION @2047 — Nutraceutify the Nation for Viksit Bharat, a landmark national symposium held in Mumbai on July 3, to reaffirm a unified vision for India’s healthcare future—one that prioritises prevention over cure and recognises nutraceuticals as a vital pillar of preventive healthcare.
Organised by the IDMA’s Nutraceutical Committee, in partnership with SHEFEXIL (Shellac & Forest Products Export Promotion Council) and HADSA (Health Foods and Dietary Supplements Association), and supported by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), Government of India, the symposium brought together policymakers, regulators, healthcare professionals, scientists, academia, and industry leaders to deliberate on the future regulatory landscape of nutraceuticals in India.
With the theme “Nutraceutify the Nation for Viksit Bharat,” the symposium emphasised that achieving the vision of a developed India by 2047 will require a paradigm shift from a disease-centric healthcare model to a wellness-centric ecosystem focused on prevention, nutrition, and healthy living.
As India continues to witness a sharp rise in lifestyle disorders such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic conditions, experts unanimously stressed that preventive healthcare is no longer an option—it is a national necessity.
The symposium underscored the timeless principle that “Prevention is Better Than Cure.” Nutraceuticals, supported by balanced nutrition, healthy lifestyles, and scientific innovation, have emerged as important tools for maintaining health, reducing disease risk, and improving quality of life.
Participants highlighted that empowering citizens to proactively manage their health through safe, science-backed nutraceuticals can significantly reduce the long-term burden on India’s healthcare infrastructure as well as the economic burden of India coupled with enhanced Quality of Life.
A key focus of the symposium was the importance of maintaining nutraceuticals as Over-the-Counter (OTC) products, ensuring they remain easily accessible to consumers seeking preventive health solutions.
Industry experts expressed that nutraceuticals are fundamentally different from pharmaceutical drugs in their purpose, regulatory framework, and intended use. While medicines are designed to diagnose, treat, mitigate, or cure diseases, nutraceuticals support normal physiological functions, bridge nutritional gaps, could even fill therapy gaps, and promote overall wellness.
The symposium emphasised that unnecessary regulatory overlaps between food and drug frameworks could restrict consumer access, impede innovation, hamper exports and undermine India’s preventive healthcare objectives. Delegates advocated for a science-based, risk-proportionate, and globally harmonised regulatory ecosystem that encourages innovation while ensuring consumer safety and product quality.
The discussions aligned closely with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, recognising that a healthier population is fundamental to sustainable economic growth and national development. Experts highlighted India’s tremendous potential to become a global hub for nutraceutical innovation, manufacturing, research, and exports by leveraging its strengths in traditional knowledge, biodiversity, which includes over 1700 plants, food processing, and pharmaceutical excellence.
The symposium called for stronger collaboration among government, regulators, industry, healthcare professionals, and academia to build a robust ecosystem that supports evidence-based nutraceuticals and preventive healthcare initiatives.
The discussions focused on several key deliberations, including the evolving regulatory framework for nutraceuticals in India and the importance of maintaining their over-the-counter (OTC) identity.
The deliberations further explored strategies to improve India’s global competitiveness in the nutraceutical sector and culminated in policy recommendations aimed at advancing the vision of Viksit Bharat through nutrition and wellness.
The event reinforced the belief that by encouraging preventive healthcare and preserving consumer access to quality nutraceuticals through the OTC pathway, India can build a healthier population, reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases, and accelerate its journey toward becoming a developed nation by 2047
