The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) congratulates Colombia for the approval of resolution 2066 of October 23, 2024, which establishes “the technical regulation that defines the uses and maximum contents of industrial trans fats and partially hydrogenated oils and dictates other provisions.”

This measure will promote the elimination of industrially produced trans fats in food, helping to protect the cardiovascular health of the population. Excessive consumption of trans fats is associated with an increased risk of developing and dying from coronary heart disease.

The regulation, after going through a transparent process of public consultation and regulatory impact analysis, was approved by the executive branch. In this regulatory instrument, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection adopts the best practices of PAHO/WHO for the elimination of industrially produced trans fats from food in Colombia. The first is the prohibition of the use of partially hydrogenated oils in food. The second is the establishment of a 2% limit for other industrially produced trans fatty acids within the total fats.