Definition of pharmaceuticals, foods, health foods, etc.

　Pharmaceuticals are intended to treat human diseases and are directly related to life and health. Therefore, in order to prevent the health damage caused by its use, the purpose of ensuring the quality, efficacy, and safety of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, etc. Law on Ensuring, etc. (Pharmaceutical Machinery Act) "is established.

　"This law ensures the quality, effectiveness and safety of pharmaceuticals, quasi-drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, and regenerative medicine products (hereinafter referred to as" pharmaceuticals, etc. ") In addition to taking necessary regulations to prevent outbreak and spread, taking measures related to the regulation of designated drugs, and to promote research and development of products such as medicines, medical devices, and regenerative medicine, which are particularly medical devices, which are particularly medical care, which are particularly high medical care of drugs, which are particularly high medical care, medical care, medical care, which are particularly necessary for medical devices, medical devices, which are particularly necessary for which are particularly necessary for medical care, and regenerative medicine, and regenerative medicine, and regenerative medicine, and regenerative medicine, and regenerative medicine, which are particularly necessary for medical care, which are particularly (Article 1 of the Pharmaceutical Machinery Act)

In this law, pharmaceuticals are defined as follows:

1.Items contained in the Japanese Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
2.Items intended to be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent diseases of humans or animals, such as machinery and equipment (machinery equipment, dental materials, medical supplies, sanitary products, and programs (command orders to computers) , A combination of so that one result can be obtained. (the same shall apply hereinafter) and the recording medium in which this is recorded. The same applies hereinafter. ) (excluding quasi-drugs and regenerative medicine products)
3.Items that are intended to affect the structure or function of a person or animal body, and is not machinery or equipment (excluding quasi-drugs, cosmetics, and regenerative medicine products) (Article 2, Paragraph 1 of the Pharmaceutical Machinery Act)

　Items consumed from the mouth correspond to either pharmaceuticals or food. Of these, only foods that do not fall under the category of pharmaceuticals are considered to be food. The Food Sanitation Law stipulates food as follows:

　"Food refers to all food and drink. However, pharmaceuticals, extra-drug products, and regenerative medicine, etc. prescribed in the Pharmaceutical Machinery Act do not include this. " (Article 4, Paragraph 1 of the Food Sanitation Law)

　Health foods are not a medicine. It's just food. It should not be intended to treat the disease. Many health foods are made from those used as private drugs, and the efficacy, effects, dosage and safety on human diseases are not investigated in detail. Many people say that it worked, but it seems that psychological effects are working. However, recently, some foods that can be expected to be used for health in dietary habits, such as bifidobacterium, oligosaccharides, and minerals, have been found.

　The permission of the Commissioner of the Consumer Affairs Agency is required to indicate that it is suitable for special purposes such as baby/infant, infant, pregnant women, and sick. Figure 1 shows the classification of special use foods. Each of the permission has the mark shown in the figure below.

Figure 1 Classification of Special Use Food

Attached to special-purpose foods
(commonly known as the human mark)

Attached to food for specified health use
(commonly known as the human mark)

Figure 2 Labeling mark for special use foods