Is Shilajit Approved in the UK? Regulations, Safety, and What to Look For

Last updated: 25 August 2026

Reviewed by Sarah Law, Naturopathic Nutritionist

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Shilajit Capsules

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✓ Standardised to 60% fulvic acid✓ Third-party tested for heavy metals✓ GMP-certified manufacture✓ 60-day money-back guarantee

A note from Ben, founder of Love Life Supplements

Shilajit is the one category where I genuinely worry about what people are buying. Scroll any marketplace and you will find jars of black resin sold on romance alone: hand-scraped, sun-dried, ancient. Almost none of it carries a number you can check.

We took the opposite route. Our capsules use MEET Shilajeet®, a purified extract standardised to 60% fulvic acid, at 600mg per capsule. It is encapsulated in the UK in GMP-certified facilities and third-party tested for heavy metals before it is released. That is a longer and more expensive supply chain than buying resin, and it is the only version of this ingredient I am willing to put our name on.

If you buy elsewhere, that is fine. Just ask the brand for the certificate of analysis and the standardised fulvic acid figure. If neither exists, you are not buying a supplement, you are buying a story.

Stay strong,
Ben Law
Founder, Love Life Supplements

Is Shilajit Legal in the UK?

Yes. Shilajit is legal to sell and to buy in the UK when it is sold as a purified food supplement that meets UK food safety law. It is not on any prohibited or restricted substance list for food supplements, and it is not a controlled substance. What it is not is "approved", because UK food supplement law contains no approval step for a business to pass through.

This trips people up because they are used to medicines. A medicine needs a marketing authorisation from the MHRA before a single box is sold. A food supplement does not. Instead, the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003 and the wider body of food law place continuing duties on whoever places the product on the market: it must be safe, it must be labelled with a full ingredient declaration and a recommended daily intake, it must carry a warning not to exceed that intake, and it must not be presented as something that treats, cures or prevents disease.

So the honest phrasing is this: shilajit is permitted rather than approved. No government body has vetted the specific jar in front of you. The Food Standards Agency and Trading Standards act after the fact, on evidence of a problem, which is exactly why the burden of proof falls on the brand and, in practice, on you as the buyer.

What about novel food status?

Novel foods are foods with no significant history of consumption in Great Britain before May 1997, and they require authorisation before they can be sold ^[12]. Shilajit has a long history of traditional use, and it is not currently listed among the authorised novel foods, nor is it the subject of a published GB prohibition. The practical effect is that shilajit continues to be sold here as an ordinary food supplement, and the legal risk a brand carries is about safety and labelling rather than about novel food authorisation. If the FSA position on any specific shilajit preparation changes, it will be published in the regulated products register.

A related question worth answering directly: is raw shilajit resin legal to sell in the UK? Only if it meets the same contaminant limits and labelling rules as any other supplement. Nothing about the resin format is illegal in itself. The problem is that unprocessed resin frequently fails those limits, which makes a particular batch non-compliant even though the ingredient is permitted.

Is Shilajit FDA Approved, and Has the FDA Issued a Heavy Metals Warning?

Shilajit is not FDA approved, and no Ayurvedic product is. The FDA states plainly that there are no FDA-approved Ayurvedic products, and that Ayurvedic products marketed to prevent, treat, diagnose or cure any disease are illegally marketed in the United States ^[9]. Dietary supplements in the US are not approved before sale, in the same way food supplements are not approved before sale in the UK.

On heavy metals, the FDA has issued a warning about the category, not about shilajit by name. Its published warning covers heavy metal poisoning associated with certain unapproved Ayurvedic drug products, and it notes that some of these products include heavy metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic, iron and zinc, and that they typically are not labelled to contain them ^[9]. The FDA lists high blood pressure, kidney injury, fatigue, gastrointestinal distress and neurologic symptoms among the possible effects of heavy metal poisoning from these products.

Shilajit sits inside that category because it is a mineral-rich Ayurvedic preparation. So if you searched for an FDA shilajit warning and found nothing shilajit-specific, that is not a loophole and it is not reassurance. The correct reading is: the regulator has flagged the class of product, and the burden is on the individual brand to show its own material has been purified and tested.

For a UK buyer, the FDA position matters less than the GB contaminant limits below, but it matters in one practical way. A lot of shilajit sold into the UK online is imported through the same channels the FDA warning describes, and marketplace listings rarely carry a certificate of analysis.

What Do the NIH and NCCIH Say About Heavy Metals in Ayurvedic Supplements?

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, part of the US National Institutes of Health, reports measured contamination in this category rather than a theoretical risk. Its review of Ayurvedic medicine states that a 2015 published survey of people who use Ayurvedic preparations showed that 40 percent had elevated blood levels of lead, and some had elevated blood levels of mercury. It also reports that about one in four of the supplements tested had high levels of lead, and almost half of them had high levels of mercury ^[8].

NCCIH does not name shilajit specifically. Its concern is the broader practice of including metals, minerals and gems in Ayurvedic preparations, some of it deliberate under the rasa shastra tradition and some of it contamination picked up from soil, water or processing. Arsenic poisoning from Ayurvedic products is described as rare but documented.

Read alongside the shilajit-specific analytical work below, the NCCIH picture is consistent: the risk is real, it is measurable, and it is a function of sourcing and processing rather than of the ingredient existing at all.

Does Shilajit Contain Heavy Metals?

Unpurified shilajit can and often does contain lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury, because it forms in rock over centuries and takes on whatever the surrounding geology holds. A 2022 analysis using three advanced analytical techniques quantified nutritional and poisonous metals in widely consumed shilajit preparations and found the profiles varied significantly by geographic origin and processing method ^[6]. A 2024 review examined the same tension directly, looking at the roles of heavy metals and humic substances in shilajit and at detoxification mechanisms ^[5].

There is a second question people search for, so it is worth separating: does shilajit remove heavy metals? The humic and fulvic substances in properly processed shilajit have been studied for their capacity to bind metal ions, and that chelating behaviour is part of why the 2024 review is titled around whether these compounds are hazardous or advantageous ^[5]. But this is not a reason to take unpurified resin. A material that carries a heavy metal load of its own is not a detoxifier, and the binding chemistry only becomes relevant once purification has removed the contaminant burden first.

Purification is the step that separates the two outcomes. Controlled extraction removes contaminants and standardises the actives, chiefly fulvic acid and dibenzo-alpha-pyrones. That purified extract is what the clinical literature has actually tested ^[4].

What Heavy Metal Limits Apply to Shilajit Sold in Great Britain?

Food supplements sold in Great Britain must stay at or below 3.0 mg/kg for lead and 1.0 mg/kg for cadmium, under the assimilated version of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 on contaminants in foodstuffs ^[11]. These are the numbers that decide whether a given batch of shilajit is legal here. They apply to the finished supplement as sold, which is why the format matters so much: a purified extract is tested against them, while a jar of resin bought from an unnamed supplier usually is not tested against anything.

Notice what is not on that list: an approval number, a licence, a government registration. There is nothing to look up, which is precisely why brands that publish nothing can trade alongside brands that test everything.

What a compliant pot costs, per capsule

Price is the other number people use to judge shilajit, usually badly. Cheap resin looks like a bargain until you divide by the actual dose. Here is the arithmetic on our own pot, so you can run the same sum on anything you are comparing.

Two things follow from that. First, a purified, tested, standardised extract lands at roughly half a pound a day, which is not the premium people expect. Second, when a competing resin is materially cheaper, the saving is almost always coming out of the testing budget. Live pricing and stock for our own pot sit on the Shilajit Capsules product page, along with the 60-day money-back guarantee, so you can check the numbers above rather than take them on trust.

What Does UK-Compliant Shilajit Actually Look Like?

A compliant product is a purified, standardised extract with a named identity, a stated fulvic acid percentage, third-party contaminant testing and a full ingredient declaration. A non-compliant one is usually raw resin with none of those things. The distinction is visible on the label before you ever open the jar.

A 2013 review noted that purified shilajit typically contains 50-60% fulvic acid, and that figure has become the working quality benchmark in the literature ^[4]. Brands that openly publish certificates of analysis are demonstrating the transparency that UK law encourages and that genuine quality requires.

Our own Shilajit Capsules use MEET Shilajeet®, a purified extract standardised to 60% fulvic acid which has been the subject of dedicated clinical evaluation ^[1]. That is the type of branded, verified ingredient that distinguishes a compliant supplement from a poorly sourced alternative.

"When clients ask me about shilajit, my first question is always: has it been purified and tested? The bioactive compounds in shilajit, particularly fulvic acid, are genuinely interesting from a functional health perspective, but the safety profile of unpurified resin is simply not acceptable. Always ask for a certificate of analysis before purchasing."

Sarah Law, Naturopathic Nutritionist and Functional Practitioner | Optimised Female

What Does the Clinical Research Say About Shilajit's Safety?

Purified shilajit has a reasonable safety record in the published literature at studied doses, and the safety data applies to purified extract only, not to raw resin. A 2013 review in Phytotherapy Research assessed the safety and efficacy of shilajit and concluded that purified shilajit shows a well-documented safety profile across animal and human studies ^[4].

A study of the human skeletal muscle transcriptome found that 250 mg of purified shilajit extract taken twice daily for eight weeks was well tolerated in overweight and class I obese adults, with no adverse events attributed to the supplement ^[2]. It is worth noting the cohort was small, 16 participants, and that long-term safety data in large human populations remains limited.

A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found that 250 mg of purified shilajit taken twice daily for 90 days significantly increased total testosterone in healthy men aged 45 to 55 (P < 0.05), without adverse effects on safety markers ^[3]. If that is the reason you are looking at shilajit, we go through the evidence in detail in our article on whether shilajit can boost testosterone.

One animal study explored shilajit in a radiation oncology context, examining effects on radiation-induced apoptosis in ovaries ^[7]. Human evidence in that setting is insufficient to draw any conclusion, which is why the caution list below includes people undergoing cancer treatment.

Safety, Side Effects and Who Should Be Cautious

The side effects reported in clinical studies of purified shilajit are mild and transient, most commonly digestive discomfort when taken on an empty stomach. The more important safety question is not side effects but suitability, because several groups should be careful or should avoid it entirely.

• People with haemochromatosis or iron overload. Shilajit is mineral-rich and may increase iron absorption, which is unhelpful where iron regulation is already disordered.
• People with gout or raised uric acid. There is evidence suggesting an influence on uric acid metabolism, which warrants caution in anyone predisposed to gout.
• People taking antihypertensive medication. Shilajit may have blood pressure modulating effects, so combining it with blood pressure medication without medical supervision is not advisable.
• Pregnant and breastfeeding women. Clinical data in this population is absent, so supplementation is not recommended during pregnancy or lactation.
• People undergoing cancer treatment. Human evidence is insufficient to judge safety or benefit during active treatment ^[7]. Anyone having chemotherapy or radiotherapy should speak to their oncologist before using any supplement.

Standardised doses in clinical research have typically ranged from 250 mg twice daily to 500 mg once daily ^{[3], [4]}. We cover the exclusions in more depth in our guide to who should avoid taking shilajit.

Consult your GP or healthcare provider before starting shilajit, especially if you take prescription medication, manage a chronic health condition, or have a known sensitivity to minerals or heavy metals.

Sarah Law

Naturopathic Nutritionist and Functional Practitioner

"As with any supplement, I always advise clients to speak with their GP before starting shilajit, particularly those managing chronic health conditions or taking prescription medications. Quality matters enormously here: choose a product that is standardised, third-party tested, and manufactured to GMP standards. That is not just a marketing phrase, it is the baseline for safety."

How to Verify a UK Shilajit Supplement in Five Checks

You can settle whether a shilajit product is genuinely compliant in about five minutes, using five checks that any legitimate brand can answer immediately. If a seller cannot answer three of these, stop there.

1. Named and standardised extract. The label should identify the extract by name, such as MEET Shilajeet® or PrimaVie®, and state a standardised fulvic acid percentage. A vague listing of "shilajit resin" with no further detail is a warning sign. Look for at least 50% fulvic acid.

2. Certificate of analysis. Reputable brands make third-party certificates available on request or on the website. A useful certificate shows lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury results against the applicable limits, plus microbial counts and active compound concentrations.

3. GMP-certified manufacturing. UK manufacturers operating to Good Manufacturing Practice are audited on quality control. BRC certification adds a further layer of assurance specific to the UK retail market.

4. Transparent ingredient labelling. UK food supplement law requires full ingredient declarations. Proprietary blends without ingredient-level disclosure are a compliance concern, not a trade secret worth respecting.

5. No unlicensed medical claims. A compliant UK supplement cannot claim to treat, cure or prevent disease. If a shilajit listing says it cures fatigue or treats low testosterone, the brand is signalling that it does not know or does not care where the legal line sits.

If you would rather see how the main UK options compare on these points side by side, we have done that work in our best shilajit UK guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is shilajit legal in the UK?

Yes. Shilajit is legal to sell and buy in the UK as a food supplement. It is not a controlled substance and it is not on any prohibited list for supplements. The condition is that the specific product must be safe, must meet GB contaminant limits, must be labelled correctly and must not carry medicinal claims.

Is shilajit FDA approved?

No, and no Ayurvedic product is. The FDA does not approve Ayurvedic products, and it states that Ayurvedic products marketed to prevent, treat, diagnose or cure disease are illegally marketed in the United States ^[9]. Dietary supplements are not subject to pre-market approval there, just as food supplements are not in the UK.

Has the FDA issued a warning about heavy metals in shilajit?

The FDA has issued a warning about heavy metal poisoning associated with certain unapproved Ayurvedic drug products, which is the category shilajit belongs to, rather than a warning naming shilajit itself ^[9]. It notes that such products often contain lead, mercury or arsenic without declaring them on the label.

Does shilajit contain heavy metals?

Unpurified shilajit frequently does, because it forms in mineral-rich rock. Analysis of shilajit samples has found toxic metal content varying substantially with geographic source and processing method ^[6]. Purified, standardised extract that has been third-party tested against the GB limits of 3.0 mg/kg lead and 1.0 mg/kg cadmium is the form to buy ^[11].

Is shilajit safe?

Purified shilajit has a reasonable safety record in clinical studies at doses around 250 mg twice daily, with mild and transient side effects ^[4]. Raw, untested resin is a different proposition, and the safety literature does not cover it. Pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with haemochromatosis or gout, and anyone on blood pressure medication should avoid it or seek medical advice first.

Is there a certified shilajit in the UK?

There is no shilajit certification scheme as such, because no UK body certifies individual supplements. What exists instead is certification of the manufacturing site, such as GMP and BRC, and third-party laboratory testing of the batch. Those two together are the closest thing to certification available, and they are what to ask for.

Want the compliant version without doing the homework? Our Shilajit Capsules use 600mg of MEET Shilajeet® per capsule, standardised to 60% fulvic acid, third-party tested for heavy metals and made in the UK. Covered by a 60-day money-back guarantee.

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Choosing a shilajit? See our Best Shilajit UK guide for the main brands compared on purity, standardisation and price.

About the author: Ben Law

Ben Law is the founder of Love Life Supplements and host of the Optimised Health Show. He is a self-confessed health, fitness and primal living fanatic and a qualified Advanced Dietary Supplement Advisor and Primal Blueprint Certified Expert. Over the last decade, Ben has helped thousands of UK customers optimise performance and recovery with transparent, research-led formulations manufactured to UK GMP and BRC standards.

Learn more about Ben.