25/10/2025
Health Professions Council of South Africa | eBulletin 24 October 2025
Dear Mrs Pieters
The Professional Board for Dietetics and Nutrition (hereinafter referred to as the Board) wishes to officially update the practitioner regarding the prescription of nutrition substances by allowing Dietitians to practice their profession as guided by their scope of practice.
The Board wishes to reiterate the following
Registered Dietitians as independent practitioners, are authorised to prescribe non-scheduled nutritional products within their scope of practice.
Registered Dietitians are to prescribe non-scheduled products in line with the HPCSA ethical guidelines, such as;
To act in the best interest of the patients.
Scheduled nutritional substances (including 1,2 and 3 nutritional products) may only be prescribed by an authorised prescriber as defined in section 22A of the Medicines and Related Substances Act 101 of 1965. Any recommendations by dietitians for scheduled nutrition substances must be prescribed and signed by the treating doctor. The Medicines and Related Substances Act mandates that the doctor sign-off.
Practitioners are encouraged to report,
Any individual, party, or entity that prohibits registered practitioners from practising within their scope.
Report any unauthorised person who encroaches on the scope of Dietitians.
Any Registered Dietitian who brings the profession into disrepute.
All the best,
The Professional Board for Dietetics and Nutrition
