Exploring Regulatory Frameworks and Consumer Protection for Herbal and Dietary Supplement Safety: A Scoping Review

Background: Herbal and dietary supplements are being increasingly used for health promotion and disease prevention. However, differences in regulation may affect consumer safety and create challenges for nurses involved in patient education and monitoring. This scoping review examined herbal and dietary supplements regulatory frameworks and consumer safety guidelines across selected countries to identify gaps in regulation and safety monitoring. Methods: A scoping review was conducted following the Arksey and O’Malley framework and reported in accordance with the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). ProQuest, Scopus, ScienceDirect, ClinicalKey Nursing, and the Malaysian Ministry of Health website were searched for relevant literature published between 2018 and 2025. Two independent reviewers conducted study screening and eligibility assessment. Data were charted using a structured extraction form and synthesised descriptively and thematically. Results: Thirteen studies across seven countries met the inclusion criteria. Five major thematic domains related to consumer safety were identified: (1) regulatory compliance and product verification, (2) practitioner consultation and professional oversight, (3) consumer education and awareness, (4) adverse event monitoring and pharmacovigilance, and (5) safe use practices and risk mitigation. Considerable variation was observed in regulatory oversight, pharmacovigilance, and public education across countries. Conclusion: The findings highlight the need to strengthen safety monitoring, improve public education, and enhance regulatory awareness among healthcare providers to promote the safe use of herbal and dietary supplements globally.