The health of the population has a direct impact on the economy, as the health condition of citizens is a significant asset for a country. Therefore, the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MiSPAS) aims to address and counteract non-communicable diseases through the public consultation proposal of a resolution regarding the “Front Warning Nutritional Labeling (EFAN)”. This initiative seeks to inform consumers about non-alcoholic foods and beverages that contain high levels of sodium, sugars, total fats, saturated fats, trans fats, and sweeteners.

Industry Opinion
The Executive Vice President of the Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic (AIRD), Mario Pujols Ortiz, described the MiSPAS regulation as the most inflexible and radical. He questioned why nutritional guidelines or values established by the World Health Organization (WHO), which have been implemented in other countries such as Brazil, are not considered. He stated that Public Health overlooks the culture of non-compliance with basic labeling in the Dominican Republic and that it is not only the document under discussion but also other legislative projects related to front labeling that are currently in the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.