The Current Situation of Japanese Medicinal Plants Industry and its Significance on the Pharmaceutical Industry 2-3 - 農業知識入口網

2. Current situation of crude drug products
2-3. Health foods

Under the Japanese law, all products except drugs are traditionally considered as foods. However, many illegal sales of food and herbal products with false medicinal claims flooded the market and because of this, two new food categories were added in 200112)- foods for specified health use (FOSHU) and foods with nutrient function claims (FNFC) (foods which consist of vitamins and/or minerals). FOSHU are products that can claim medicinal benefits if preliminary clinical data and scientific evidence are submitted. For example, Tochucha’s (Eucommunia bark tea) health claim as the “beneficial food for people with high blood pressure” is approved by the
FOSHU. As of November 7th. 2008, 806 types of FOSHU have been approved.

These products contain plants such as soybean, tea, psyllium, wheat, guava, coffee, Eucommunia bark, seaweed, sesame seed, broccoli, and cabbage, etc. The FOSHU market growth is proportional to the increasing number of approved products, with 2007 sales reaching 680 billion yen (not all products contain herbs) 13). On the other hand, health foods that have not been approved by FOSHU and FNFC are still sold as “so-called health food” even after these regulations have been implemented. The 2007 market for these “so-called health food” have reached 1,100 billion yen14）.