Day: 20/02/2022

The Americas – USA: FDA opened the application portal to participate in the Food Analysis Laboratory Accreditation program – LAAF

/ infoAlimentario

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) opened the application portal for accreditation bodies interested in participating in the Laboratory Accreditation for Analyses of Foods (LAAF) program.   

Under the LAAF program, the FDA will recognize accreditation bodies that will accredit food testing laboratories to standards established in the final rule on Laboratory Accreditation for Analyses of Foods (referred to as LAAF-accredited laboratories). 

The final rule, issued by the FDA on December 3, 2021, established the LAAF program and outlined eligibility requirements that accreditation bodies and laboratories wishing to participate in the program will need to satisfy. The final rule also describes the procedures for how the FDA will manage and oversee the program. The FDA will maintain an online public registry of recognized accredited bodies and LAAF-accredited laboratories.  

For further information, you can access the original source

The Americas – Brazil: ANVISA updates the Regulatory Agenda for the year 2022 including those related to food

/ infoAlimentario

Anvisa’s Collegiate Council has just approved the annual update of the 2021-2023 Regulatory Agenda, originally published in May 2021. As foreseen in the Guiding Document of the Regulatory Agenda – IA 2021-2023, the set of regulatory projects of the Agenda may be reviewed annually, with the possibility of alterations, exclusions and inclusions of projects. The purpose of the annual update is to keep the document aligned with the regulatory priorities of the period, to ensure the predictability and timeliness of the Agency’s regulatory planning.

In Food:

  • Foods for Infants, Toddlers, Teats, Pacifiers and Bottles.
  • Functional and Health Claims on Foods
  • Labeling of packaged foods
  • Food contact materials.
  • Food identity and quality standards.
  • Flows and procedures for authorizing the use of food additives and processing aids.
  • Flows and procedures for new ingredients
  • Food irradiation
For further information, you can access the original source in Portuguese

The Americas – Colombia: Ministry of Health continues to evaluate which model of warning stamps will be implemented

/ infoAlimentario

The Vice-Minister of Health, Germán Escobar, argued that the government is based on international experiences such as Israel when implementing the circular seals. However, a research process with independent peers will just begin to determine the best measure in Colombia.

While the government continues to evaluate how to implement Law 2120 passed in Congress, there is an insistent call from civil society to implement an adequate model of seals of approval. The Vice Minister of Health pointed out that this type of information must be consulted with international bodies such as the World Trade Organization. This process could take at least two years.

For further information, you can access the original source in Spanish

For further information, you can access the original source (in Spanish), click on the Link

Around the World – Portugal: Nutri-Score is the most effective logo for nutritional quality reporting

/ infoAlimentario

A study carried out in the Portuguese population, and published in the scientific journal Nutrients, on the 30th of November 2021, concluded that the Nutri-Score, nutritional logo of color on the front of the packaging, is the most effective scheme to inform about the food quality nutrition and help to identify more healthy options when it’s time to go to the supermarket. The studio involved 1059 participants, who were asked to order three types of products (pizzas, pastries and cereals for breakfast) according to their nutritional relevance. First, without label, and with five nutritional regimens. The results showed that the selections progressed in their presence. The Nutri-Score achieves the best performance, helping to list foods nutritionally in the correct order.

For further information, you can access the original source in Portuguese

For further information, you can access the original source (in Portuguese), click on the Link

Nutriscore

The Americas – Argentina: The Ministry of Health already has a draft regulation for the Frontal Labeling Law

/ infoAlimentario

The Ministry of Health presented to food companies a draft of the regulation of the Front Labeling Law (Law 27.642). Minister Carla Vizzotti said that exemptions are considered for special cases in which it is not possible to meet the compliance deadlines, in other cases there is no flexibility in the times provided by law as companies want.

The meeting, led by Sandra Tirado of the Health Access Secretary, was attended by the Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Productive Development, Alejandro Sethman. The officials showed some details about the regulation, but without sharing any document.

The companies are requesting an extension of these implementation deadlines. The Law gives 180 days from the sanction for large companies to implement the black octagons.

For further information, you can access the original source (in Spanish), click on the Link