Starting Jan. 1, 2027, California will impose new restrictions on the sale of dietary supplements marketed for weight loss and muscle building. People under 18 will not be able to buy covered products without a prescription. The rules will apply to, among other things, supplements containing creatine if they are advertised as boosting muscle strength or muscle mass.
The new rules stem from Assembly Bill 2030, which Gov. Gavin Newsom signed in September. The law’s main goal is reportedly to limit teenagers’ access to supplements whose makers promise that users will lose weight faster, gain muscle mass or improve their physique.
Under the new law, brick-and-mortar stores will have to check customers’ ID if it cannot reasonably be determined that they are at least 18. The ban covers not only selling but also offering the specified supplements to minors in any other way, as well as giving them away. The restrictions are also to apply to online purchases.
A key element of the new regulations is how products subject to the restrictions are identified. The law does not impose a blanket ban on selling creatine or protein supplements to minors. What matters most is how the supplement is advertised and presented. Only if a manufacturer or seller presents a product as helping to increase muscle mass or strength, or to reduce body weight, can it fall under the new rules.
The rules include an exception for minors who have a prescription for a covered product.
Businesses that violate the new rules will face a fine of up to $500 per violation. California’s attorney general and authorized local authorities will also be able to seek a court order to stop unlawful sales.
Editor: JŁ
