Ashwagandha: Is It Safe? Part 1: A Regulatory Review

Over the last decade, ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, AS) has been brought under increasing scrutiny by EU regulators regarding its safety for the use in food supplements, culminating in a recent recommendation for an Article 8 procedure according to Regulation (EC) No. 1925/2006 in the European Union (EU). Once executed, this could lead to a ban on its use as an ingredient in food supplements. This review summarizes how AS is regulated in some of the primary world marketplaces.