The Americas – USA: FDA Issues Additional Procedural Notice on Consumer Research on “Healthy” Symbol

26/03/202227/03/2022 / infoAlimentario

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is issuing a 30-day procedural notice on the preliminary quantitative consumer research it plans to conduct on voluntary symbols that could be used in the future to convey the nutrient content claim “healthy.

The update to the definition and study of a potential symbol for the “healthy” nutrient content claim are part of the FDA’s broader efforts to help reduce the burden of diet-related chronic diseases and advance health equity. Updating labeling and making it more accessible helps empower consumers.

For further information, you can access the original source

The Americas – Perú: Government to evaluate proposal to amend milk and dairy products regulation

19/03/2022 / infoAlimentario

The Minister of Agrarian Development and Irrigation announced that the Peruvian Association of Dairy Farmers (Agalep) has submitted a proposal to amend the regulations on milk and dairy products to establish the use of fresh milk in the production of evaporated milk in the industry.

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

The Americas – Costa Rica: United Nations promotes front labeling of products high in fat, sodium and sugar

19/03/2022 / infoAlimentario

The United Nations urged Costa Rica to identify products high in fat, sodium and sugar through front labeling. It also invited the Legislative Assembly to develop a new bill to move forward on this issue, given that bill #22.065 was recently shelved.

Nydia Amador, member of the Asociación Costa Rica Saludable, explained that in July 2020, bill 22.065 was presented to the legislative stream: “Law of front labeling of prepackaged food and non-alcoholic beverages, to facilitate the understanding and decision making of the consumer, on the content of critical nutrients and ingredients that, by their excessive consumption, represent risks to the health of people”.

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

The Americas – Argentina: Front-end labeling regulation to be published by end of March

13/03/2022 / infoAlimentario

According to official sources, the text of the regulation has already been defined; it will be published at the end of March and contains details on deadlines, as well as some concessions to the industry.

The implementation will take place in two stages. The first one will be in force until the end of the year and will have broader parameters than the final scheme, which should be fully in force in 2023. The regulation provides for a special deadline for companies that distribute beverages in returnable glass containers. According to the firms in the sector, it is necessary to paint the black octagons on the millions of bottles circulating in the country. In the meantime, it was decided that the warnings referring to these products will be covered by advertisements on the sales shelves.

An important point is that the deadlines are established as from the entry into force of the law and not from the publication of the regulation.

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

The Americas -Panama: Private sector unions request suspension of debate on labeling law

10/03/2022 / infoAlimentario

Members of 7 organizations of businessmen and producers of Panama requested the National Assembly to suspend the discussion of Bill 265 “Law of Frontal Labeling of Nutritional Warning”, since Panama as a signatory of the Central American Economic Integration Subsystem (SIECA) is currently participating in the discussion of the Central American Technical Regulations (RTCA) on this matter.