Russian Dietary Supplements and Functional Drinks: Standards and Export

Dietary supplements and functional drinks form one of the most dynamic segments of the Russian consumer market. A shift in demand towards disease prevention, immune support and mental health stimulates manufacturers to expand their range and localise production. For the B2B segment, this category matters both as an object of retail demand, as raw materials for the food and pharmaceutical industries, and as an export commodity whose quality and safety are regulated by technical regulations and national standards.

Regulation: TR CU 021/2011, TR CU 022/2011 and GOST R 56543-2015

Dietary supplements are classified as specialised food products and are subject to state registration within the EAEU. Mandatory safety requirements are established by TR CU 021/2011 "On food safety", and labelling requirements by TR CU 022/2011 "Food products in terms of their labelling". State registration confirms compliance with technical regulation requirements and is accompanied by the issuance of a state registration certificate.

From 1 September 2025, amendments clarifying state regulation of the dietary supplement market came into force: medical professionals gained the right to prescribe registered dietary supplements included in the relevant list if they can help the patient. In 2026, the Russian Government approved quality and efficacy criteria for dietary supplements, including a valid state registration certificate, labelling and entry of information into the marking system, and the absence of violations identified by Rospotrebnadzor over the past three years.

Functional drinks are regulated by a separate national standard - GOST R 56543-2015 "Functional drinks. General specifications", approved by Rosstandart order No. 1116-st of 10 August 2015. The standard applies to functional drinks intended for direct systematic consumption to improve one or more physiological functions and metabolic processes in the human body, and does not apply to baby food drinks. Additionally, TR CU 021/2011 and TR CU 022/2011 requirements on safety and labelling apply.

From 1 January 2026, Russian Government Resolution No. 1953 of 28 November 2025 came into force, tightening requirements for registering dietary supplements in the national marked goods catalogue subsystem. Since September 2025, verification of permitting documentation has become mandatory for placing dietary supplements on marketplaces, and all turnover data passes through the Chestny Znak system. This reduces shadow turnover and increases supply chain transparency.

Dietary Supplement Market: Production and Dynamics

According to Rosstat, Russian dietary supplement production in 2025 grew by 8.7% compared to 2024 and reached 32.9 thousand tonnes. In December 2025, the indicator showed a slight decline of 0.3% year-on-year, explained by seasonal fluctuations and a high base effect.

The dynamics continued in 2026. In the second quarter of 2026, domestic dietary supplement production increased by 9% year-on-year to 184.7 million packs, while imports declined by 9% to 35.4 million packs. Total market supply grew by 5.8% to 220.1 million packs against 208.1 million in Q2 2025. This dynamic reflects consistent import substitution and strengthening positions of domestic manufacturers.

According to Tebiz Group, the average annual growth of the dietary supplement market is about 9%, with over 40% of production concentrated in the Siberian Federal District. The premium segment accounts for over 12% of the market, and dependence on imports remains significant, although it is gradually decreasing. Key demand drivers include growing awareness of disease prevention, immune support and interest in natural components and adaptogens.

Sales channels are undergoing structural changes. The share of online dietary supplement purchases in Q2 2026 grew from 9% to 20% year-on-year, while the share of traditional retail fell from 85% to 72%. Over the half-year, the online channel share doubled to 18%. Growth in distance sales is accompanied by a reduction in the share of illegal turnover, which fell to 5.4% by the end of 2025.

Consumption of vitamin and mineral complexes in dietary supplement format in January-September 2026 reached 43.8 million packs, 25.6% above the same period in 2025. At the same time, sales of medicinal multivitamin preparations in the same period declined by 8.7% in volume terms, reflecting a shift in demand towards preventive formats.

Functional Drinks: Market and Projects

The Russian sports and functional nutrition market grows by 14-18% annually, and its volume already exceeds RUB 46 billion. The functional drinks segment is still small in absolute terms but shows explosive growth rates. According to INFOLine, key investment trends in 2025-2026 include enrichment of products with prebiotics for microbiome health, adaptogens for stress management, electrolytes for hydration and vitamin complexes. The trend is driven by fibre deficiency in the Russian diet and global demand for mental health products.

In 2026, several major players launched their functional lines. Arnest Yunirus (ex-Unilever, part of the Arnest group) is bringing to market the Repeat brand in the categories of non-alcoholic, isotonic and protein drinks. The line will include four directions: increased tone, support for skin, hair and nail beauty, stress and anxiety reduction, and immune support and improved digestion. Production is organised at a brewery in Nizhny Novgorod, with sales planned through retail chains, marketplaces, delivery services and HoReCa channels. Investment in launching production is estimated at about RUB 350 million.

EFKO Group entered the sweet drinks market with the HiPRO line enriched with calcium, vitamins D3 and B12. Bochkarev Breweries received the "Made in Russia" certificate for the functional drink Sila Nashikh based on Far Eastern adaptogens - Rhodiola rosea and Far Eastern schisandra. The drink is positioned as a caffeine-free energy source without artificial colours or preservatives, and its formula was developed jointly with scientists from the Institute of Biodiversity of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The company Kraft (Arkhangelsk Oblast) received the "Made in Russia" certificate for the functional drink Arktikvit based on cold extraction of young pine shoots - fully natural, without sugar, caffeine or synthetic additives.

The supply structure is shifting towards "clean label" drinks: almost a third (29.7%) of domestic new products were produced with sweeteners, while the trend towards a maximally natural and simple composition gained strength in parallel. Over 60% of new non-alcoholic drink products had complex flavours, and strong Asian gastronomic influence manifested in flavours, packaging aesthetics and growth in sales of traditional Korean soju.

Key Manufacturers and Export Potential

Exports of dietary supplements and functional drinks from Russia show steady growth, although absolute volumes are still small. The share of Russian dietary supplement sales abroad adjusted in certain periods, but the supply geography is expanding.

Khabarovsk Krai in November 2025 presented dietary supplements based on seal fat harvested in the Sea of Okhotsk at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai. Products are manufactured with full quality control at all stages - from raw material harvesting to the production of finished capsules, have the necessary state registration certificates and bear the "Made in Khabarovsk Krai" label. Following the exhibition, the products received official certification for export to the People's Republic of China, opening new opportunities for Far Eastern manufacturers.

Irkutsk company SibPribor, with the support of the Russian Export Centre, successfully entered the markets of Malaysia, the UAE and China with dietary supplements based on Siberian medicinal plants under the Baikal Legend trademark. The company has been developing export directions since 2015, starting with Serbia and South Korea, and in 2021 passed international GMP certification, which sets requirements for production and quality control at pharmaceutical and food enterprises. The export share in the company's sales is 50%. For supplies to China, SibPribor used deferred payment insurance for SMEs available on the My Export platform.

NPO BIT LLC (Tver Oblast) already supplies its dietary supplements, baby food and cosmetics to a number of regions of China and held negotiations with Chinese distributors and retail chain representatives within the Third Russian-Chinese Forum. Yakut companies presented over 800 products in Harbin, including dietary supplements and functional drinks. Export development is supported by Russian Export Centre programmes, including "Made in Russia" showcases on foreign marketplaces and demonstration and tasting pavilions in China.

Promising markets for Russian products include China, the UAE, Malaysia, CIS countries and the Middle East. The "Made in Russia" certificate and international GMP certification act as competitive advantages when entering foreign markets, where higher requirements are imposed on the safety and traceability of dietary supplements.

Logistics and Supply Conditions

Dietary supplements and functional drinks require temperature control and protection from direct sunlight throughout the route. Capsules, tablets and powders are sensitive to moisture and temperature fluctuations: overheating can lead to degradation of active components, and freezing can destroy the structure. Functional drinks in glass and PET containers require protection from mechanical damage and compliance with storage conditions specified by the manufacturer.

International shipments use temperature-controlled containers and reefer transportation, especially for deliveries to countries with hot climates. Packaging must ensure hermeticity and moisture protection; blisters and bottles with desiccants are used for encapsulated supplements. For export batches, a state registration certificate, declarations of conformity with TR CU 021/2011 and TR CU 022/2011, as well as documents confirming the origin and safety of products, are required.

Financial support for the transaction may include letters of credit, bank guarantees and cargo insurance. For long-term contracts, it is advisable to fix a mechanism for adjusting terms when raw material costs, logistics tariffs and exchange rate fluctuations change.

Prospects and Selection Factors

The Russian market for dietary supplements and functional drinks is at a stage of active growth and structural transformation. Key success factors are quality and safety stability, compliance with TR CU 021/2011, TR CU 022/2011 and GOST R 56543-2015, state registration and GMP certification, cost competitiveness and the development of export channels.

For buyers, not only price per unit matters but also the product category (vitamins, minerals, adaptogens, protein, isotonics), supply form (capsules, tablets, powder, drink), availability of a state registration certificate and Chestny Znak marking, storage and packaging conditions, supply chain reputation, and laboratory confirmation of compliance and a complete package of accompanying documents for export batches. Understanding standards, technological differences and market structure helps reduce risks and build long-term contracts.

Contact Us

If you are looking for Russian dietary supplements or functional drinks, need advice on product selection, quality parameters and supply organisation, please contact our team at info@apptrade.ru. We will help you find the right product, verify documentation and organise supply.