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Regulatory affairs is evolving from compliance function to business growth engine: Dr Satish Singh
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Yash Ved, Mumbai
October 03 , 2026
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As nutraceutical and health-product markets become increasingly regulated and globally interconnected, regulatory affairs is evolving from a compliance checkpoint into a strategic function that can influence product development, speed-to-market, international expansion, risk management and consumer trust, according to Dr Satish Singh, DGM regulatory affairs, Zeon Lifesciences Ltd.
Dr Singh stated that regulation ensures product quality and safety, prevent misleading claims, establish industry accountability and build consumer confidence while supporting responsible innovation and market growth. For manufacturers, particularly in the nutraceutical and health-products space, the regulatory function can begin adding value long before a product is ready for launch.
Dr Singh added, "For years, regulatory affairs was largely viewed as the function that ensured a product met the rules before it reached the market. But the health and wellness industry has changed considerably. With growing consumer scrutiny, evolving regulations, increasing demand for science-backed products and businesses looking beyond domestic markets, regulatory expertise is now closely linked to commercial strategy."
Time-to-market is an important consideration in a competitive health and wellness landscape. Delays arising from incomplete documentation, inappropriate claims, labelling issues or approval requirements can affect launch timelines and commercial plans.
"International expansion brings another layer of complexity. Ingredient permissions, claims, packaging requirements, registrations and documentation can differ substantially between markets. regulatory affairs teams help businesses interpret these requirements and develop market-specific dossiers and compliance strategies. This can make regulatory preparedness an important enabler of international market access rather than a barrier to expansion," added Dr Singh.
Dr Singh added that embedding regulatory requirements into the product-development roadmap allows businesses to anticipate these requirements rather than address them at the final stage. A well-defined regulatory pathway can therefore help create a more predictable and efficient transition from product development to market.
"Perhaps the most important shift is to recognise that regulation and innovation do not necessarily have to be at odds. Regulatory professionals can help organisations understand emerging ingredients, novel delivery formats, evolving claims frameworks and changing market expectations. When regulatory expertise is integrated early into innovation, businesses can identify what is feasible, where the opportunities lie and how an idea can be developed into a commercially viable product. For the nutraceutical industry, this represents a broader transformation in the role of regulatory affairs," added Dr Singh.
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TOPICS
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