Key Insights• According to the research report, "Colombia EPA & DHA Market Outlook, 2031," published by Actual Market Research, the Colombia EPA & DHA Market is expected to reach a market size of more than USD 9.23 Million by 2031. The Colombian EPA & DHA market is gradually expanding as the country faces a rising burden of cardiovascular and chronic disease driven by population aging, urbanization, and changing dietary patterns, alongside growing consumer interest in preventive nutrition. Colombia's population is estimated at approximately 53 million, and DANE projects that by 2036 the country will have more older adults than children. According to DANE vital statistics, Colombia recorded 275,778 non-fetal deaths in 2024, up 2.7% from 2023, with ischemic heart disease remaining the leading cause of death at 17.0% of all deaths, followed by cerebrovascular diseases and chronic lower respiratory diseases. Preliminary data for January to July 2025 show ischemic heart disease accounting for 17.2% of deaths. The growing clinical burden is placing additional pressure on Colombia's health system and consumer health sector to strengthen access to EPA and DHA through dietary supplements, medicines, fortified foods, and infant nutrition.• Colombia's EPA & DHA market is characterized by a mixed ecosystem comprising domestic pharmaceutical and nutrition laboratories, multinational consumer health companies, pharmacy chains, direct-selling organizations, and a rapidly growing pet care industry. Pharmacy chains such as Cruz Verde, La Rebaja, Farmatodo, and Pasteur, alongside supermarkets such as Éxito and Olímpica and e-commerce platforms such as Mercado Libre and Rappi, function as the primary distribution channels for omega-3 supplements.

Direct-selling companies such as Amway, Herbalife, and Fuxion play a significant role in reaching consumers outside major cities. Infant formula is supplied mainly by multinational companies including Nestlé, Abbott, Reckitt (Mead Johnson), and Danone. Colombia's pet sector is among the most dynamic in Latin America, with the share of households owning at least one pet rising from 48% in 2020 to between 60% and 67% in 2025, according to Pet Food Institute research.• Regulatory oversight for EPA and DHA products is administered by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection and the National Institute for Food and Drug Surveillance (INVIMA). Omega-3 supplements are regulated as suplementos dietarios under Decree 3249 of 2006, requiring sanitary registration from INVIMA, while prescription omega-3 products are regulated as medicines. In July 2024, the Ministry of Health published a draft decree to update the dietary supplement framework, covering manufacturing conditions, permitted ingredients, labelling, claims, sanitary registration, advertising, and sales channels. Packaged foods are subject to the octagonal front-of-pack warning label system under Resolution 2492 of 2022, and ultra-processed foods are subject to a health tax that rose to 20% in 2025.

The Colombian EPA & DHA market is largely supplied through imported refined oils and finished products.Market Outlook• A defining characteristic of Colombia's EPA & DHA market is the progressive strengthening of quality and safety standards for dietary supplements. The Ministry of Health's July 2024 draft decree proposes stricter manufacturing requirements, including ISO 8 cleanroom standards for production areas, batch traceability, ingredient approval based on Codex Alimentarius, FDA, and EU references, and restrictions on misleading labelling and therapeutic claims. The draft also proposes that supplements be sold only through pharmacies, health food stores, and compliant chain stores, with street vending prohibited. INVIMA continues to issue public alerts against illegally marketed supplements, encouraging consolidation toward established brands with valid sanitary registrations. Simultaneously, omega-3 products are increasingly positioned around cardiovascular health, cognitive function, joint health, and healthy aging, supported by pharmacist and physician recommendations.• The market also reflects Colombia's growing emphasis on public health nutrition policy. The front-of-pack octagonal warning system under Resolution 2492 of 2022 and the health tax on ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks under Law 2277 of 2022, which rose to 20% in 2025, are encouraging food manufacturers to reformulate products and develop healthier alternatives, creating opportunities for omega-3-enriched dairy, eggs, and functional foods.

In infant nutrition, DANE reported 445,011 births in 2024, a 13.7% decline from 515,549 in 2023 and the lowest figure in a decade, which is constraining infant formula volumes but encouraging manufacturers to focus on premium DHA-fortified formulations.Market DynamicsDriver: Rising cardiovascular disease burden and accelerating demographic agingColombia's EPA & DHA market is primarily driven by the growing prevalence of cardiovascular and metabolic conditions associated with demographic aging and lifestyle-related risk factors. Ischemic heart disease was the leading cause of death in Colombia in 2024, accounting for 17.0% of all deaths, and remained in first place in the January to July 2025 period at 17.2%, according to DANE. Cerebrovascular diseases accounted for a further 6.0% to 6.2% of deaths. The rapid aging of the population, with DANE projecting that older adults will outnumber children by 2036, is reinforcing demand for products that support cardiovascular, cognitive, and joint health. Physicians and pharmacists frequently recommend omega-3 supplements for triglyceride management, and the expansion of modern pharmacy chains is improving consumer access. As public health programs continue promoting cardiovascular risk awareness, pharmacies and retailers are witnessing growing demand for EPA and DHA products.Challenge: Regulatory transition, informal market, and dependence on imported oilsOne of the principal challenges facing Colombia's EPA & DHA market is the uncertainty associated with the planned update of dietary supplement regulations and the presence of an informal and illegal supplement market.

The Ministry of Health's July 2024 draft decree proposes significantly stricter manufacturing, facility, and sales channel requirements, which could raise compliance costs for smaller domestic producers and restrict sales through informal channels. INVIMA has repeatedly warned against the illegal commercialization of supplements that lack sanitary registration. Additionally, Colombia relies heavily on imported refined fish oil and finished softgels, exposing brands to exchange rate fluctuations and global raw material prices. Peru's first 2026 north-central anchovy quota was set at 1,914,049 tonnes, approximately 36% lower than in 2025, following a coastal El Niño event. Price sensitivity among lower-income consumers also limits penetration of premium high-concentration and algal omega-3 formats.Trend: Rapid growth of pet nutrition, e-commerce, and premium omega-3 formatsColombia is experiencing a significant shift in omega-3 demand supported by the rapid expansion of pet ownership and digital retail. The share of Colombian households with at least one pet rose from 48% in 2020 to between 60% and 67% in 2025, according to Pet Food Institute research, while a 2024 Kantar survey found that 70% of surveyed households had at least one pet.

Premium pet foods and supplements incorporating fish oil for skin, coat, and joint health are gaining share in pet shops, veterinary clinics, and online channels. Simultaneously, e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms such as Mercado Libre and Rappi are expanding consumer access to imported omega-3 brands, krill oil, and algal DHA products. The growing emphasis on healthier eating, encouraged by front-of-pack labelling and health taxes, is also expected to support the development of omega-3-fortified foods.Policies• Dietary Supplement Regulation (Decree 3249 of 2006): Omega-3 dietary supplements containing EPA and DHA are regulated under Decree 3249 of 2006, which requires INVIMA sanitary registration, compliance with manufacturing and labelling requirements, and prohibits therapeutic claims. Supplements must be intended to complement the normal diet of healthy individuals.• Draft Dietary Supplement Decree (2024): In July 2024, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection published a draft decree to update the regulation of dietary supplements, covering manufacturing, packaging, storage, quality control, labelling, nutrition and health claims, sanitary registration, advertising, and inspection. The draft proposes ISO 8 cleanroom requirements, batch traceability, ingredient approval based on international references, and restrictions on sales channels.• Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (Resolution 2492 of 2022): Packaged foods must display octagonal warning seals for excess sugars, sodium, saturated fats, trans fats, and sweeteners, influencing the formulation and positioning of omega-3-fortified foods and beverages.• Health Tax on Ultra-processed Foods (Law 2277 of 2022): Colombia applies a health tax on ultra-processed edible products and sugary drinks, which increased progressively to 20% in 2025, encouraging reformulation and the development of healthier products.• Medicine Registration and Market Surveillance: Prescription omega-3 medicines require INVIMA sanitary registration under Decree 677 of 1995 and related regulations, while INVIMA conducts market surveillance and issues public alerts against illegally marketed supplements and products making misleading claims.Segment AnalysisColombia EPA & DHA Market By Product Type• Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) maintains an important position within Colombia, particularly in infant formula, prenatal supplements, and children's nutrition products, with DHA widely included in formulas marketed by multinational manufacturers.• Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) represents the fastest-growing product type segment in Colombia, driven by increasing physician recommendation of high-EPA concentrates and omega-3 medicines for triglyceride management and cardiovascular risk reduction.Colombia EPA & DHA Market By Source• Fish Oil represents the leading revenue-generating source category in Colombia due to its cost-effectiveness and broad consumer familiarity. Refined fish oil is largely imported from Peru, Chile, and Europe and encapsulated by domestic laboratories and contract manufacturers.• Algae Oil maintains a growing position within Colombia, particularly in infant formula and vegan supplements, supplied by multinational algal oil producers.• Krill Oil is a premium source category available through pharmacies, health food stores, and e-commerce, targeting higher-income urban consumers.• Other Marine Sources hold a niche position in the Colombian market, including cod liver oil and salmon oil, primarily used in traditional supplements and pet nutrition.Colombia EPA & DHA Market By Application• Dietary Supplements represent the largest application segment in Colombia, distributed through pharmacies, supermarkets, direct selling, and e-commerce, with omega-3 among the most widely used supplements for cardiovascular and cognitive health.• Pharmaceuticals represent an important application segment, including omega-3 medicines for hypertriglyceridemia distributed through private pharmacies and health insurers (EPS).• Infant Formula represents a strategically important application segment, with DHA widely included in formulas.

Births fell 13.7% to 445,011 in 2024, constraining volumes but supporting premiumization.• Food & Beverages encompasses omega-3-enriched milk, eggs, and functional beverages, with reformulation encouraged by front-of-pack labelling and the health tax on ultra-processed foods.• Clinical Nutrition & Medical Foods includes enteral and parenteral nutrition products containing fish oil, used in hospitals for critically ill, surgical, and oncology patients.• Pet Nutrition represents the fastest-growing application segment in Colombia, supported by household pet ownership rising to between 60% and 67% in 2025 and the premiumization of pet foods and supplements.Major EPA & DHA Manufacturers Operating in Colombia• Nestlé, Abbott, Reckitt (Mead Johnson), Danone, Tecnoquímicas, Procaps, Amway, Herbalife, dsm-firmenich, KD Pharma Group, and Aker BioMarine are leading players in the Colombian EPA & DHA market, offering finished supplements, softgel manufacturing, DHA-fortified infant formula, and refined fish oil, algal oil, and krill oil ingredients. Their strong presence, broad distribution networks, and relationships with pharmacies and healthcare professionals have driven adoption across the Colombian market.• The market is also supported by contract manufacturers, ingredient importers, and pet food producers that provide formulation, encapsulation, and distribution support. Colombia's domestic softgel manufacturing capabilities, led by companies such as Procaps, position the country as a regional production base for omega-3 products.Colombia EPA & DHA Supply and Pricing Economics• EPA and DHA products in Colombia represent value-added nutritional products whose pricing depends on source, concentration, brand positioning, and import costs. Pricing varies considerably between standard fish oil, high-concentration oils, krill oil, and algal oil.• Retail pricing is influenced by the peso-dollar exchange rate and global raw material prices. Refined fish oil prices normalized by late 2024, but the reduced 2026 Peruvian anchovy quota is expected to place renewed upward pressure on raw material costs.• Supplements are largely paid out-of-pocket, while omega-3 medicines may be covered by health insurers for eligible patients. Private-label pharmacy ranges and direct-selling channels provide lower-cost entry points.• Compliance with the proposed supplement decree could increase manufacturing costs for smaller producers, while supporting premium positioning for established brands.Market Outlook by Consumer Health Spending and Supply Infrastructure• Colombia's EPA & DHA market growth is strongly linked to consumer health spending, demographic aging, and the expansion of modern pharmacy and e-commerce channels, although price sensitivity, regulatory transition, and import dependence remain significant factors influencing adoption.• Private consumer spending drives the supplement and pet nutrition segments, while pharmacy chains and digital platforms continue to expand omega-3 visibility and access.• The future growth opportunity for EPA and DHA in Colombia depends on the finalization of the updated supplement regulatory framework, reduction of the informal market, consumer education on omega-3 benefits, and expansion of the pet nutrition and healthy aging segments.

Greater integration of e-commerce, premium formats, and domestic softgel manufacturing capacity will likely support long-term market development.Global EPA & DHA MarketConsidered in this report• Historic Year: 2020• Base Year: 2025• Estimated Year: 2026• Forecast Year: 2031Aspects covered in this report• EPA & DHA Market with its value and forecast along with its segments• Various drivers and challenges• Ongoing trends and developments• Top profiled companies• Strategic recommendationsBy Product Type• Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA)• Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)By Application• Dietary Supplements• Infant Formula• Pharmaceuticals• Food & Beverages• Clinical Nutrition & Medical Foods• Pet NutritionBy Source• Fish Oil• Algae Oil• Krill Oil• Other Marine Sources.