Congressman Idelso Garcia presented a bill that seeks to establish labeling on alcoholic beverages to warn consumers about the types of cancer they may suffer from their consumption. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, around 35% of Peruvians have addiction problems. Through Bill No. 9973/2024-CR, legislator Idelso García proposes to safeguard consumers’ right to information through the use of informative labels on alcoholic beverages, so as to warn about the possible risks of contracting different types of cancer as a consequence of their ingestion. To this end, it seeks to amend Article 7 of Law No. 28861, which regulates the Commercialization, Consumption and Advertising of Alcoholic Beverages (Law No. 28681). Through this change, it is provided that in a space of no less than 10% of the total area of the packaging, wrapping and related items, as well as on the labels of the product containers of any liquor, the phrase: “Drinking alcoholic beverages in excess increases the risk of developing various diseases including certain types of cancer”.
As part of the measures being taken by the national government to speed up bureaucratic procedures, Decree No 35/2025, which amends Decree No 2126/1971, which regulates Law 18.284 on the Argentine Food Code, was published today, simplifying and streamlining the sanitary management of imports and exports of food and related products. The National Administration of Medicines, Food and Medical Technology (ANMAT in Spanish) informs that, as from the publication of this new decree, food products, packaging and materials in contact with food under its competence, which have certification issued by countries considered as high sanitary surveillance or with which economic integration treaties or reciprocity agreements detailed in the decree are in force, may enter the country by presenting an Import Affidavit, as long as they have a marketing authorization or certificate of free sale of the product -or a similar document- approved by the competent health authority of the country of origin, regardless of whether or not the products are covered by national regulations. ANMAT will soon publish the complementary provisions and procedures to carry out the implementation of this new regulation.
The National Administration of Drugs, Food and Medical Technology (ANMAT in Spanish) has published 2 new Resolutions 11378/2024 and 11362/2024, which amend the Application Manual of Law No. 27642 and Decree 151/22 on the front labeling system.
Resolution 11362/24: Nutritional declaration and advertising restrictions
Introduced the “Application Manual”, which establishes new guidelines for front nutritional labeling. According to this regulation, foods and alcoholic beverages formulated, manufactured and packaged without the presence of the customer must include these seals, provided that they contain added sugars, sodium or fats, either as main or secondary ingredients. In addition, the labeling must detail the amounts of added sugars, saturated fats, total fats, sodium and energy in the ready-to-eat product. Regarding advertising, it is prohibited to include on the packaging any type of endorsement granted by civil or scientific associations, as well as the use of children’s characters, promises of prizes, contests or events. In short, the product cannot be promoted through elements that condition the purchase decision outside the genuine interest of the consumer.
Resolution 11378/24: Restrictions for products aimed at minors
It establishes the prohibition of advertising, promoting or sponsoring packaged food and alcoholic beverages that are especially aimed at children and adolescents. The annex of this provision emphasizes advertising methods, requiring that the labels be visible and proportional to the size of the container. In the case of audiovisual advertising, they must remain on screen for a sufficient time, avoiding inducing errors or confusion in consumers.
Current regulations and transition Products that are already labeled according to the previous regulations will continue to be marketed until stock runs out. From then on, companies will have to adapt to the new provisions established in provision 11362/2024.
The National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA in Portuguese) Anvisa has published updated versions of guidelines for evaluating the mutagenic potential, carcinogenic potential, neurotoxicity and reproductive toxicity of pesticides.
The guidelines provide guidance on the toxicological evaluation of pesticides, which encompasses the assessment of various outcomes and is carefully conducted by the Agency, both during product registration and during a possible reanalysis.
In addition, the guides express ANVISA’s understanding of best practice in relation to procedures, routines and methods considered appropriate to meet the technical or administrative requirements mandated by the Agency’s legislative and regulatory frameworks.
Guide 66/2023 – version 2 – Guide to the Assessment of the Mutagenic Potential of Pesticides
Front-of-package nutrition labeling (FoPNL) has been gaining prominence as a strategy to reduce the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages as it helps consumers to clearly identify products with excess sugars. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the Brazilian and Mexican FoPNL systems on simulated purchases of non-alcoholic beverages by adolescents in a fictitious online store. A total of 437 Brazilian adolescents (15 to 18 years old) participated in the study and were randomized into three experimental groups: control (online store with products displayed without FoPNL), Mexican FoPNL system (products with “excess in” octagonal black warning labels based on the Mexican nutritional profile), and Brazilian FoPNL system (products with “high in” magnifying glass icons following the Brazilian nutritional profile). FoPNL systems have been applied in accordance with the legislation of each country. Participants selected a non-alcoholic beverage to be purchased from 30 options in the experimental online store. After completing the simulated purchase, they responded to questionnaires regarding their perceptions of healthfulness, harmfulness, and excess nutrient content of the beverages, as well as their socioeconomic status. Compared to the control, the Mexican FoPNL system significantly reduced the prevalence of adolescents choosing beverages in the highest tertile of free sugar density (PR: 0.74, 95 %CI: 0.58 – 0.94), added sugar density (PR: 0.76, 95 %CI: 0.57 – 0.99), and energy density (PR: 0.75, 95 %CI: 0.58 – 0.96). Participants in the Mexican FoPNL system group selected beverages containing 11.5 %, 10.3 %, and 7.7 % less free sugars, added sugars, and energy density, respectively, compared to the control group. Regarding total quantities, the Mexican FoPNL system led to the choice of beverages with 5.3 %, 5.0 % and 3.7 % less free sugars, added sugars, and energy, respectively, than those in the control group. The Brazilian FoPNL system resulted in a 2.3 % reduction in the calories purchased compared to the control group but was ineffective in changing the amount of free and added sugars in the simulated purchases. Additionally, the Mexican FoPNL system increased the odds and the prevalence of participants perceiving sweetened beverages as harmful to health by 82 % and 30 %, respectively, compared to the control. In conclusion, the Brazilian FoPNL system was ineffective in reducing the simulated purchase quantities and densities of free sugars, added sugars, and energy. In contrast, the Mexican FoPNL system was effective, outperforming the Brazilian system by reducing the prevalence of participants choosing beverages in the highest tertiles of free sugar density, added sugar density, and energy density, and by increasing the odds and prevalence of adolescents recognizing sweetened beverages as harmful to health.
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