A total of 82 samples were inspected with the assistance of AGES experts for food supplements and novel foods, of which 11 products had to be withdrawn from the market as "not marketable" to protect consumers. The reasons for the complaints were the classification as unauthorised novel foods and labelling deficiencies.

In contrast to the first joint control campaign "BMF/Customs/BAVG/AGES: Successful control campaign on food supplements from the Internet", the complaint rate in the current focus campaign was significantly lower at just under 14 per cent compared to 44 per cent at the time, and this time no samples were found to be harmful to health.

Once again, a particularly high number of unauthorised novel foods were found. These were mainly herbal products that are associated with non-European medicine. Specifically, lithium was again discovered in food supplements. These products will be given special consideration in future official controls.

The experts from customs, BAVG and AGES were thus able to gain important insights into food supplements from the online trade, which trends exist on the online market and which products from third countries outside the EU are sent to consumers in Austria in order to protect them from health risks.