CompoAtlas

Copper in food supplements

4,734 supplements declared in France contain a form of this nutrient

Copper: in France, a food supplement may not provide more than 2,000 µg a day (Order of 9 May 2006, not revised since November 2006, Annex III); for adults, EFSA's upper safe limit is 5 mg a day. The doses of the 2006 Order have not been revised since the amending Order of 14 November 2006, and some were annulled by the Conseil d'État in 2011; the DGCCRF accepted higher levels for some nutrients through guidelines published until January 2019, and an update of the Order is being prepared (ministerial answer published in the Official Journal on 11 February 2025).

Order of 9 May 2006, Annex III. French orders of 9 May 2006 and 14 November 2006 as published in the Official Journal (maximum daily doses), retrieved 21 October 2026.

EFSA, Overview on Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (version 11, August 2025), retrieved 21 October 2026.

Written Question No 2686, ministry answer published in the Official Journal on 11 February 2025.

In plain words

À quoi il sert, selon les fabricants

Objectifs les plus souvent annoncés pour les compléments qui en contiennent (cuivre) : cheveux et ongles (810 produits), immunité (706 produits), peau (675 produits), articulations (531 produits), antioxydant (459 produits).

Ce sont les objectifs déclarés par les fabricants à l'administration, pas des effets démontrés. Sur l'emballage, seules les allégations de santé autorisées par l'Union peuvent être écrites.

Compl'Alim, food supplement declarations (France), retrieved 23 October 2026.

Jusqu'où c'est sûr

Pour un adulte, l'EFSAEuropean Food Safety Authority. fixe la limite supérieure de sécurité à 5 mg/j : c'est l'apport quotidien qui, pris sur le long terme, ne devrait pas provoquer d'effet indésirable. Au-delà, le risque augmente. Un complément n'est qu'une partie de l'apport.

Précision de l'EFSA : En 2023, le comité scientifique de l'EFSA a fixé une DJA de 0,07 mg/kg de poids corporel pour le cuivre.

EFSA, Overview on Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (version 11, August 2025), retrieved 21 October 2026.

La règle en France

En France, la dose journalière recommandée d'un complément ne doit pas apporter plus de 2000 µg (arrêté du 9 mai 2006, non révisé depuis novembre 2006). Compl'Alim ne publie pas la dose des produits déclarés : comparez celle de l'étiquette à ce plafond et à la limite de sécurité de l'EFSA.

French orders of 9 May 2006 and 14 November 2006 as published in the Official Journal (maximum daily doses), retrieved 21 October 2026.

EFSA safety references

Le repère de l'EFSA porte sur l'apport total d'une journée, alimentation et compléments.

EFSA daily references
PopulationTypeValue
1-3 yearsUpper limit1 mg/j
4-6 yearsUpper limit2 mg/j
7-10 yearsUpper limit3 mg/j
11-14 yearsUpper limit4 mg/j
15-17 yearsUpper limit4 mg/j
adultsUpper limit5 mg/j
pregnancyUpper limitnot defined
breastfeedingUpper limitnot defined

In 2023, EFSA's Scientific Committee set an ADI of 0.07 mg/kg body weight for copper

SCF, 2003a. EFSA, Overview on Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (version 11, August 2025), retrieved 21 October 2026.

Maximum dose in France

Maximum daily dose per supplement in France: 2,000 µg, according to the Order of 9 May 2006.

The doses of the 2006 Order have not been revised since the amending Order of 14 November 2006, and some were annulled by the Conseil d'État in 2011; the DGCCRF accepted higher levels for some nutrients through guidelines published until January 2019, and an update of the Order is being prepared (ministerial answer published in the Official Journal on 11 February 2025).

Order of 9 May 2006, Annex III. French orders of 9 May 2006 and 14 November 2006 as published in the Official Journal (maximum daily doses), retrieved 21 October 2026.

Authorised health claims

  • « Copper contributes to maintenance of normal connective tissues »
    Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of copper as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
  • « Copper contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism »
    Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of copper as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006
  • « Copper contributes to normal functioning of the nervous system »
    Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of copper as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
  • « Copper contributes to normal hair pigmentation »
    Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of copper as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
  • « Copper contributes to normal iron transport in the body »
    Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of copper as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
  • « Copper contributes to normal skin pigmentation »
    Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of copper as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
  • « Copper contributes to the normal function of the immune system »
    Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of copper as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
  • « Copper contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress »
    Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of copper as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
3 refused or revoked claims: they cannot appear on packaging
  • « Copper contributes to the cholesterol and glucose »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
  • « Copper contributes to the cholesterol and glucose »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
  • « Supplementation with B-vitamins, iron, magnesium as well as vitamin C can reduce fatigue and tiredness in situations of inadequate micro-nutrient status. »
    Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.

Official English text, as entered in the Union register. A claim may only be used under its conditions.

8 authorised claims, 3 refused or revoked. EU Register of nutrition and health claims, retrieved 21 October 2026.

Forms declared in supplements

Union list: vitamin and mineral forms that may be used in a food supplement (Directive 2002/46/EC, Annex II).

Directive 2002/46/EC on food supplements, latest consolidated version (Annex II: forms of vitamins and minerals), retrieved 23 October 2026.

Products containing it