The Americas

Regulatory news in the Americas

Colombia – Court orders Ministry of Health to incorporate changes in labeling of ultra-processed foods

/ infoAlimentario

The Administrative Court of Cundinamarca ordered the Ministry of Health to modify the resolution on front labeling. Ultraprocessed foods must have a black octagonal warning with the word excess.

The Court issued a first instance judgment in order to resolve the lawsuit filed by the Colombian Corporation of Parents, Red Papaz, against the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce, the Administrative Department of the Presidency of the Republic, the Communications Regulation Commission, the National Institute for the Surveillance of Medicines and Food, the National Television Authority, Alpina Products Alimenticios S.A. and Gaseosas Tobón S.A.

The court decided to protect the right to public health of Colombian consumers arguing that the front warning labeling has a greater effect in capturing attention and risk perception.

For further information, you can access the original source in Spanish

Paraguay – Revision of the law that establishes the frontal nutrition labeling

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The Chamber of Deputies is scheduled to deal this week with the Law that establishes “The implementation of nutritional front labeling”, therefore, a group of citizens is requesting that the original bill be used in order to quickly, correctly and easily identify products with excess sugars, fats, calories and sodium.

For further information, you can access the original source in Spanish

Mexico – Foreign academics send letter to Supreme Court in support of food labeling

/ infoAlimentario

Researchers and academics from universities in the United States, Canada, Brazil and Europe, among other countries, sent a letter to the justices of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) to express their support for front warning labeling on food and beverages.
They pointed out that it is one of the most effective measures to reverse overweight and obesity; more than 30 researches and controlled trials in Israel, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Argentina, Uruguay and Mexico have demonstrated that the health provision contributes to reduce the intake of sugar, salt and added saturated fats.

For further information, you can access the original source in Spanish

Mexico / UNICEF: Front-of-package food labeling protects children and must be maintained

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The front labeling used in Mexico, proven to be one of the best in the world as it is simple, prominent and easy to interpret, should be defended as a mechanism to guide consumption and protect children and adolescents from environments that increase the propensity to obesity and related diseases, said UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund.

For further information, you can access the original source in Spanish

Peru: INDECOPI fines company for omitting information on GMO ingredient

/ infoAlimentario

The Resolving Body of Summary Proceedings for Consumer Protection N°3 (OPS3) of the National Institute for the Defense of Competition and Protection of Intellectual Property (INDECOPI in Spanish) sanctioned the company Mondelez Perú S.A., importer and marketer of the product called “Bubbaloo Sparkies”, for not having complied with the labeling stating that it contained genetically modified or transgenic components, such as starch.

Through Final Resolution No. 1385-2022/PS3, the resolution body decided to impose a fine of 3.49 UIT (Unidades Impositivas Tributarias), equivalent to 16,054 soles, for having infringed Article 37 of the Consumer Protection and Defense Code.

For further information, you can access the original source in Spanish