Do you need a license to sell vitamins?

Licensing requirements depend on whether the company manufactures, packages, warehouses, imports, distributes, or only retails vitamins. A retailer may need a general business license, sales-tax permit, and food-retail authorization. A manufacturer or packer may face additional facility, food-processing, zoning, environmental, and health-department requirements.

Facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold food for consumption in the United States may need FDA food-facility registration unless an exemption applies. Registration is not FDA approval or a product-quality certification, and applicable facilities must renew their registration during each biennial renewal period.

Additional requirements can include:
• State dietary supplement or food registrations
• Seller’s permits and local occupancy approvals
• Foreign supplier verification responsibilities for importers
• Customs and import documentation
• Dietary supplement GMP compliance
• New dietary ingredient notifications where applicable
• Compliant labels, substantiated claims, and adverse-event procedures

Private-label sellers cannot transfer all responsibility to the contract manufacturer. The brand owner or distributor named on the label may retain significant obligations relating to claims, complaints, adverse events, recalls, and product legality.

Because requirements differ by state, product, ingredient, and business activity, companies should consult the FDA, relevant state agencies, and qualified regulatory counsel before launch. Selling through an online marketplace does not eliminate licensing, tax, labeling, or product-compliance obligations.