Author: infoAlimentario

Costa Rica – Ministry of Health takes action on artificial food coloring Red No. 3

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The Ministry of Health informs the population that it is aware of the recent announcement by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which has banned the use of artificial food coloring Red No. 3, also known as erythrosine, due to its relationship with thyroid cancer in animals.
To ensure the health of Costa Ricans, the Ministry of Health is taking the following actions:

  1. Call to the Central American Commission on Food Additives: An extraordinary meeting will be held to evaluate the use of Red No. 3.
  2. Product Analysis: Samples of products containing Red No. 3 will be taken for analysis at Inciensa, with the aim of verifying that they comply with the quantities currently permitted.

Regarding medicines containing Red No. 3 dye, which are regulated by the Central American Technical Regulations RTCA 11.03.59:18 and RTCA 11.01.02:04, the Ministry of Health will promptly communicate the actions to be taken.

In addition to these actions, the Ministry of Health will be monitoring all information shared regarding the use of this dye.

Brazil – ANVISA publishes modification to the regulation of plastic packaging and equipment in contact with food

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The National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA in Portuguese) publishes the Resolution of the Collegiate Council RDC ANVISA No 961/2025 which modifies the Resolution of the Collegiate Council – RDC No 56/2012, which provides the positive list of monomers, other starting substances and polymers authorized for the production of plastic containers and equipment in contact with food.

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Brazil – IDEC files appeal against withdrawal of labeling on foods with a percentage less than or equal to 1% of GMOs

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The Institute for Consumer Protection (IDEC in Portuguese) filed an appeal before the Supreme Federal Court against the decision that establishes that the identification on the label of foods with a percentage less than or equal to 1% of GMO in their composition is unnecessary, adopted by the 2nd Chamber of the Superior Court of Justice (STJ), in October of last year.

The institute maintains that the decision is contrary to Brazilian legal principles and violates fundamental rights, as well as constitutional norms of consumer protection and human dignity, essential to the Brazilian economic and social order. “The Federal Constitution enshrines the rights to good citizenship, human dignity, pluralism, self-determination, information, healthy food, food security and sovereignty, health, equality, culture and tradition and a balanced environment, rights that are not negotiable and whose decisions are contrary,” the document states.

The appeal requests that the STF reinstate the decisions taken by the TRF-1 (Federal Regional Court of the 1st Region) that prohibited the Federal Union from allowing or authorizing the marketing of any food containing GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms), without express reference to that information on its labeling, regardless of the percentage, and that forced it to take measures to inspect and withdraw those products that do not comply with the decision.

Venezuela – SENCAMER publishes draft of Venezuelan Standard COVENIN 1291-1:2025 Isolation and identification of Salmonella spp. Part 1: Foods

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The Decentralized Service for Standardization, Quality, Metrology and Technical Regulations (SENCAMER in Spanish), has published the draft Venezuelan Standard COVENIN 1291-1:2025 Isolation and identification of Salmonella spp. Part 1: Food.
This standard applies to the method for isolating and identifying Salmonella spp. in food samples for human and animal consumption. Water samples and environmental samples in the food production and handling area are excluded from the scope of this standard.

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Brazil – Anvisa publishes results achieved in its food regulation agenda in 2024

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The National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA in Portuguese) released the Activities Report of the General Directorate of Food. The document presents a brief summary of the main results of the area in 2024, with emphasis on the risk and safety assessment processes, regulation of food and packaging, determination of regulatory and service standards, transparency and communication.

The relevant aspects in the report:

  • Execution of 46% of the matters of the Regulatory Agenda 2024/2025 under its responsibility.
  • Granting of two regulations in the matter with the Seal of Good Regulatory Practices, one in the gold category and another in the silver category.
  • 46% reduction in global liability for registration, post-registration and evaluation applications.
  • Greater agility in the analysis of requests for competence in the area, with a reduction in time of 30 days in the case of registration and post-registration and 55 days for risk and effectiveness assessments.
  • Reduction in the percentage of rejections out of all approved requests, which reached the lowest level in the five-year historical series.
  • Reduction in the response time of queries sent to the area by the Call Center, maintaining the percentage of user satisfaction (90%).

Relatório Atividades_2024_jan2025Download