The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) published Draft Ordinance SDA/MAPA No. 1414. Proposes modifications to Ordinance No. Ordinance No. 1170 of 2024, which regulates the technical characteristics and quality of composite dairy products for human consumption.
The Americas
Uruguay – In a public consultation, MERCOSUR Technical Regulations projects regarding the Labeling of Packaged Foods and Nutritional Labeling of Packaged Foods
The Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining has released for public consultation two MERCOSUR projects concerning food labeling:
- Project Resolution No. 03/25 Revision 1 “Technical Regulation MERCOSUR for the Labeling of Packaged Foods (Repeal of GMC Resolution No. 06/94 and 26/03). The document submitted for public consultation proposes the approval of a new Technical Regulation MERCOSUR for the labeling of packaged foods, which modernizes and replaces previous standards to ensure that consumer information is truthful, clear, legible, and sufficient. It establishes definitions, general and specific requirements for the presentation of mandatory information (including ingredients, origin, expiration date, storage, and nutritional information), sets formatting criteria to ensure readability, determines conditions for specific cases (such as small packages, foods for industrial processing, or imported products), and provides differentiated adjustment deadlines for various types of products and economic operators.
- Resolution Project No. 05/25 “MERCOSUR Technical Regulation on Nutritional Labeling of Packaged Foods (Repeal of Resolutions GMC No. 44/03, 46/03, 48/06, and 40/11).” The document submitted for public consultation approves a new MERCOSUR Technical Regulation on nutritional labeling of packaged foods, which updates and replaces previous standards. It defines the nutritional information that must be declared mandatorily, the formats and readability criteria to be followed, the circumstances under which the declaration is voluntary or exempt, how values should be calculated and expressed, and the adjustment periods that different types of products and operators will have before mandatory incorporation in the Member States.
Belize – Bureau of Standards conducts training on requirements of Revised National Standard for Labelling of Prepackaged Foods
The Belize Bureau of Standards (BBS) through an invitation from the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE) conducted a training on the requirements of the Revised National Standard for Labelling of Prepackaged Foods to Coconut producers.
Participants were introduced to the requirements of the National Standard for BZS 1: Part 3: 2025 (Revised) – Belize Standard: Specification for Labelling: Labelling of Prepackaged Foods, while getting an opportunity to conduct a self-assessment of their current labels.
The BBS noted that proper packaging and labeling are critical aspects of food safety and quality assurance, and marketing especially for pre-packaged foods.
Mexico – Senators propose labeling of food products containing genetically modified ingredients
The President of the Senate, Laura Itzel Castillo, announced that within the framework of discussions regarding the economic package (reforms to the Federal Tax Code and the Federal Rights Law), she will present a complementary initiative concerning the labeling of genetically modified products. The aim is to provide consumers with clear information about the food they purchase. The legislator clarified that this proposal will support the reform of Articles 4 and 27 of the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States, which protects native corn and prohibits the cultivation of genetically modified grains in Mexico.
She also emphasized that the review of these issues will be a priority on the economic agenda, as the modifications seek to strengthen public revenues and promote responsible consumption, particularly concerning products that have a significant impact on health.
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Brazil – Anvisa provides information regarding the cannabis plantation regularization process
The National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA in Portuguese) has presented an update regarding the measures taken by the Agency to comply with the ruling of the Superior Court of Justice (STJ in Portuguese) concerning the cultivation of cannabis solely for medicinal and pharmaceutical purposes.
The ongoing work aims to adhere to the aforementioned STJ ruling, which acknowledged the right to import hemp seeds, as well as to plant, cultivate, and market industrial hemp exclusively for medicinal and pharmaceutical uses.
The report highlighted several issues that need to be addressed in the regulatory debate, which are already being tackled by ANVISA’s technical teams. These include:
- Compliance with the judicial decision.
- The definition of scientific research involving cannabis.
- The potential impacts of future regulations on existing judicial decisions and the judicialization process.
- The necessary timelines for regulatory compliance and the internal implementation of the proposed regulation.
- The effects that establishing a maximum percentage of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) could have on cannabis-based medications and products already registered with the Agency that exceed this percentage.
According to the speaker, the discussion regarding the THC percentage limit is one of the central points that must be analyzed in the regulatory process to ensure it does not become an obstacle to the research and development of new medications.
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