MaBEST 2025: a conference to regulate the dietary supplement market

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Extract from the article: The first edition of the National Conference of Dietary Supplement Production and Promotion Companies (ASPPCAT) was held on November 20 in Lomé, alongside the 7th edition of MaBEST. Led by Santé-Éducation, this inaugural meeting aims to struc....

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    The first edition of the National Conference of Dietary Supplement Production and Promotion Companies (ASPPCAT) was held on November 20 in Lomé, alongside the 7th edition of MaBEST. Led by Santé-Éducation, this inaugural meeting aims to structure a rapidly growing sector that is still marked by heterogeneous practices and a lack of knowledge of the legal framework.

    This congress was born out of a desire to structure and regulate a rapidly growing sector. It is a founding moment aimed at professionalizing the industry and strengthening public confidence.

    The meeting brought together representatives from a dozen major companies in the sector, including Shineway, Revoobit, Champiso, MAIVIT, Green World International, Dynace, Liven Global, Forever Living, and NFS. It provided an opportunity to forge strong links, shed light on the sector, and define the best prospects for its future.

    Discussions covered a variety of topics, ranging from the role and limitations of supplements in the prevention of chronic diseases to the specific nutritional needs of African populations. The program also included a panel discussion on relationship marketing (MLM), the economic opportunities of local production, and the challenges facing the Togolese market. The conference also focused on promoting local production and relationship marketing methods, which are particularly widespread in the distribution of dietary supplements.

    Abdou Aboubakar, representative of Dynace Global, opened the discussions on product quality and the legal framework. He emphasized the strict procedures that stakeholders must follow in order to operate legally in this field. “We must have the approval of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Trade before putting any product on the market. Labeling is essential, as it must indicate the dosage, indications, contraindications, and composition of the product on the packaging,” he said.

    The event is seen by stakeholders as a turning point, essential for the future of health in Togo. For Joël Doh, representative of Green World International, this first congress represents an awakening, a spotlight on this field, discipline, and also the education that needs to be provided.

    By presenting the distinctions between dietary supplements, medicines, and functional foods, he argued for the recognition of dietary supplements as a complementary approach to medicines, particularly for chronic diseases. This conference represents a real “awakening for the sector” in a context of progressive deterioration in nutritional quality, he says.

    The conference resulted in a major initiative: the creation of a provisional office. This new structure will be responsible for organizing future conferences and acting as a liaison with the authorities to continue improving regulation in the sector.

    A product exhibition will be held at the cultural center until November 23, providing an opportunity for the general public to discover dietary supplements and other health products.

Esther KOLANI