According to the results published in the study “Self-reported decreases in selected unhealthy food purchases as a result of the implementation of warning labels in young and adult Mexican population”, published last June 14 in the medical journal International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, it is highlighted that the implementation of nutrition warning labels has reduced unhealthy food purchases in Mexico: “These results underline the potential positive impact of the labeling policy, particularly in subpopulations with lower levels of education and among indigenous adults”.
According to the results, participants reported perceived changes in their food purchases in nine different categories where nutrition warning labels were common: cola (Coca-Cola, Pepsi and others), soft drinks (Sprite, Orange Crush, Fanta, among others), diet soft drinks (Coke Zero, Diet Pepsi and others), sweetened fruit drinks (lemonade, iced tea, SunnyD, fruit punch/cocktail), candy bars, chocolate, potato chips, desserts and sweetened cereals.
Month: July 2024
Chile – New alcoholic beverage labeling law to go into effect the first week of July
The alcoholic beverage labeling law, which was published in the Official Gazette a year ago and is due to begin on July 7, has as its main objective to promote responsible alcohol consumption and reduce the associated risks.
The labeling and warnings included in the advertising will come into force on July 7, 2024 and the restrictions on advertising will come into force on July 7, 2026.
One of the most outstanding measures is the obligation to label calories on the labels of bottles with an alcohol content equal to or higher than 0.5 degrees. This change will allow consumers to have a clearer idea of the caloric impact of these beverages in their daily diet.
In addition, the law prohibits the advertising of alcoholic beverages to minors and establishes restricted time slots for their promotion in the media.
Colombia – Ministry of Health publishes new draft decree establishing health conditions and requirements for dietary supplements
The Ministry of Health and Social Protection has announced the publication of the new draft Decree that establishes the sanitary conditions and requirements for dietary supplements, and other provisions. This new draft Decree will update the provisions on dietary supplements established in Decree No 3249 of 2006, Decree No 3863 of 2008, Decree No 272 of 2009 and Resolution No 3096 of 2007, in accordance with the policy of regulatory improvement adopted by the national government.
The objective of this initiative is to protect human health and prevent practices that may mislead consumers due to the inappropriate use of dietary supplements.
According to the health authority, from the evaluation it was concluded that it is necessary to update the regulations concerning dietary supplements in Colombia based on some recommendations such as: update the technical requirements that correspond based on the agreements of the Annex on Dietary Supplements within the framework of the Pacific Alliance; carry out a review and update of the daily reference values and maximum intake levels of vitamins, minerals and trace elements, using as main input the Recommendations for Energy and Nutrient Intake (RIEN in Spanish) adopted for the Colombian population; define specific good supply practices for dietary supplements or consider whether those in force for medicines are applicable; and strengthen post-marketing control activities for dietary supplements based on health risk management, among other regulatory and non-regulatory measures.
It should be noted that the draft Decree incorporates the following changes:
- It describes in more detail those related to the purpose and scope of application, with emphasis on activities related to “manufacturing, primary and secondary packaging, storage, marketing, quality control, supply, labeling, nutritional or health claims, sanitary registration, advertising and inspection, surveillance and control of dietary supplements”.
- Dietary supplements are confirmed as a special category, different from foods, medicines, phytotherapeutic products, cosmetics, alcoholic beverages or energy drinks.
- It incorporates a number of new definitions: Conditioner; Physical Activity, Cannabidiol or CBD; Formulation Aid or Excipient; Athlete; Exercise; Principal Ingredients; Maximum Tolerable Intake Level; Physically Active Person; Daily Serving or Daily Serving Size; High Biological Value Protein; Dietary Supplement for Athletes; and Daily Reference Value.
- Excludes from the definition of dietary supplements, the condition of “physiological or Nutritional effect” for substances other than conventional nutrients. It is replaced by “other authorized ingredients”.
- Describes how the generic name of the dietary supplement should be indicated.
- Allows new forms of presentation/pharmaceutical forms for dietary supplements, complying with a series of specific requirements.
- Expansion of the international reference list for the acceptance of nutrients and other substances.
- It incorporates the description of the procedure for the recognition of ingredients not included in the accepted references, by the Specialized Room of Phytotherapeutic Products and Dietary Supplements of the Review Commission of the National Institute of Drugs and Food Surveillance – INVIMA.
- In relation to commercialization, the commercialization of dietary supplements in the form of kits is prohibited.
- Incorporate the following legends or sentence of mandatory warnings: “ESTE PRODUCTO NO ES UN MEDICAMENTO Y NO SUPLE UNA ALIMENTACIÓN SALUDABLE” (THIS PRODUCT IS NOT A MEDICATION AND DOES NOT SUPPLEMENT A HEALTHY FOOD)”,
Dietary supplements containing chromium should include the legend: “DIABÉTICOS: CONTIENE CROMO. CONSULTE A SU MÉDICO O NUTRICIONISTA” (DIABETICS: CONTAINS CHROMIUM. CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR NUTRITIONIST). - Incorporates the description of the General conditions for nutrient declaration; Nutrients for mandatory declaration; General conditions of the table of nutritional information, Specific conditions of the table of nutritional information and Formats of the table of nutritional information.
- Incorporates descriptors for nutrient content claims; Requirements for comparative nutrient claims: General Requirements for Health Claims; Requirements for Nutrient Function Claims; List of 65 Accepted Nutrient Function Claims; List of 8 Risk Reduction Claims and List of 2 Other Function Claims.
- Incorporates the description of General conditions for nutrient declaration; Nutrients for mandatory declaration; General conditions of the table of nutritional information, Specific conditions of the table of nutritional information and Formats of the table of nutritional information.
- Incorporates descriptors for nutrient content claims; Requirements for comparative nutrient claims: General Requirements for Health Claims; Requirements for Nutrient Function Claims; List of 65 Accepted Nutrient Function Claims; List of 8 Risk Reduction Claims and List of 2 Other Function Claims.
- Incorporates the Daily Reference Values for amino acids.
- Incorporates for nutrition labeling compliance the following nutrient daily reference values (DRVs) for: Calories, Protein, Total Fat, Saturated Fat, Trans Fatty Acids, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Total Carbohydrates, Sugars, Dietary Fiber.
- Incorporated changes to the Tolerable Upper Level Intake (UL) for:
- Vitamins
- Vitamin D (+), Vitamin E (-), Vitamin C (+).
- Minerals
- Calcium (-), Phosphorus (+), Silicon (Not established), Vanadium (Not established).
- Amino acid
- Maximum tolerable intake levels for Arginine, Glycine, Histidine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Serine, Taurine and Tryptophan.
Peru – Ministry of Production publishes draft Technical Regulation on biodegradable plastic tableware and / or utensils in contact with food
The Ministry of Production (PRODUCE), through Ministerial Resolution N° 215-2024-PRODUCE, ordered the publication of the draft Technical Regulation on Biodegradable Plastic Tableware and/or Tableware.
Among the main aspects of the draft regulation, it should be noted that manufacturers and importers of these products must adhere to strict standards that ensure that manufacturing processes are sustainable and do not harm the environment, meeting the parameters that materials must have to be considered biodegradable, including their ability to decompose under specific environmental conditions.
Likewise, the products must be correctly labeled and certified, assuring consumers that they are acquiring products that meet biodegradability standards.
Brazil – ANVISA updates guide on labeling of new formulas and vegetable oils and fats
The National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA in Portuguese) published the update of the following documents, dealing with food-related warnings and answers:
- Guide to questions and answers on Sanitary requirements for vegetable oils and fats – 2nd edition
In the 2nd edition, a general review of the guidelines presented in the 1st edition of the document was carried out, considering the changes promoted by RDC No. 829/2023. Modifications were also made to some parts of the document, including the laws mentioned in the previous edition resulting from the review and consolidation of the regulatory framework, within the scope of Decree No. 10,139/2019, and on the occasion of the entry into force of RDC No. 429/2020, IN No. 75/2020 and RDC No. 481/2021.
- Guide to questions and answers on Labeling of the new formula 3rd edition.
The third edition of the new formula document corrects the guidance presented in question 4, which deals with the scope of the regulation on the declaration of information on the new formula.
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