The Americas

Regulatory news in the Americas

Brazil – Chamber of Deputies addresses the responsibility of digital platforms in the sale of counterfeit dietary supplements

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The Working Group on the Marketing of Dietary Supplements of the Chamber of Deputies will hold a public hearing to discuss the responsibility of digital platforms in the sale and advertising of counterfeit products.

This discussion is in response to a request from the group’s coordinator, Deputy Felipe Carreras (PSB-PE).

The congressman aims to address the role of digital platforms and marketplaces in monitoring and overseeing the sale of dietary supplements, particularly in light of the rise in sales of counterfeit products and those lacking health registration.

“Digital platforms have become the primary sales channels for dietary supplements in the country, but the lack of control over sellers and products has facilitated the spread of counterfeit and irregular items, endangering millions of consumers,” Carreras states.

“The hearing will provide an opportunity to discuss joint supervision mechanisms, platform accountability policies, and the need to enhance consumer protection legislation in the digital environment,” he adds.

Chile – Santiago Court rejects appeals against changes to food advertising with warning labels

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The Santiago Court of Appeals rejected the appeals filed against the Ministry of Health’s decree that modified the message “Prefer foods with fewer seals,” which must appear in advertising campaigns for foods labeled as high in calories, fat, sugar, or salt, replacing it with the new wording “Food with a ‘high in’ seal; avoid consumption.”

In a unanimous ruling (case file 1.276-2025), the Third Chamber of the appellate court—comprising Ministers Paula Hasbún and María Paula Merino, and interim attorney Jorge Gómez—rejected the economic amparo petition filed by Ideal SA, holding that the change in the message, which seeks to inform consumers on public health and healthy nutrition, does not affect the petitioner’s economic activity.

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Ecuador – Deadline extended for submitting comments on the draft Partial Reform of the Food Supplements Regulations

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The Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade, Investments and Fisheries (MPCEIP) has announced that it is extending the deadline (60 days) for submitting comments and contributions on the draft Partial Reform of the Sanitary Technical Regulations for Obtaining Sanitary Notification and Control of Food Supplements at Establishments Where They Are Manufactured, Stored, Distributed, Imported, and Marketed, Resolution ARCSA-DE-028-2016-YMIH, published in Official Registry Supplement No. 937 of February 3, 2017. The purpose of the regulatory project in question is to establish the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) conditions for food processing plants, as well as the requirements that must be met by the manufacturing, production, processing, preparation, packaging, contract manufacturing, transportation, storage, import, distribution, and marketing of processed foods for human consumption.

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Argentina – ANMAT incorporates maca into the Food Code

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The National Administration of Medicines, Food and Medical Technology (ANMAT in Spanish) and the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of Argentina, thru Joint Resolutions 2/2025, include maca under the heading “Roots and Tubers.” The regulation was driven by the technical background of the Peruvian Standards and establishes a regulatory framework for:

  • Toasted maca flour: Product obtained from the dehydrated and ground root.
  • Gelatinized maca flour: Product subjected to an extrusion process, intended for use in dietary supplements, with a maximum intake of 1.5 grams per day.
  • Both products must meet rigorous microbiological criteria and contaminant limits, ensuring their safety and quality for consumption.

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Argentina – ANMAT incorporates eleven species of edible flowers and maca root into the Food Code

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The National Administration of Medicines, Food and Medical Technology (ANMAT in Spanish) and the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, thru Joint Resolutions 1/2025, incorporate 12 edible flowers into Article 822 of Chapter XI – PLANT-BASED FOODS of the Argentine Food Code, under the heading “INFLORESCENCES, FLOWERS OR BUDS,” as follows:

  • Calendula
  • Pumpkin or squash
  • Dandelion (photo)
  • Azahar (orange, lemon, and citron blossom)
  • Jasmine
  • Lavender
  • Chamomile
  • Hibiscus
  • Rosa
  • Rosehip
  • Queen or Capuchin taco

Its inclusion reflects the growing culinary trend and recognizes its esthetic, aromatic, and nutritional value, as well as the ancient tradition of consumption in various cultures, including indigenous communities in southern Argentina.

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