Despite Barriers, Opportunities Exist For Products Targeting Women’s Health In China

The market for dietary supplements for women’s health in China is a huge one, especially for products that target aging, skincare, weight loss, detox, prenatal care and blood enrichment. Chinese women have always had their homegrown, and affordable, health remedies, like “bird’s nest” and donkey hide gelatin, a fact that has so far made the market almost impenetrable for Western companies. On top of that are other barriers: government regulations, lack of consumer awareness, and resistance to prices boosted by shipping costs, taxes and import fees. But importers have reason to be optimistic. Especially encouraging is the fact that China’s version of the FDA is drafting new rules designed to nurture the industry and expand consumer education about Western nutritional and other supplements.