Costa Rica – Ministry of Economy considers unconstitutional front food labeling project

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Before the discussion of bill 23861, which proposes front labeling with nutritional warnings on food and non-alcoholic beverages, the Minister a.i. of Economy, Patricia Rojas, explained before the Disability Commission that the initiative is contrary to international legislation, is unconstitutional and violates regional agreements, because the technical regulation on this issue is governed by a Central American integration treaty.

Purpose of the Bill
The bill seeks to establish a regulatory framework for the front labeling of food products and beverages with non-alcoholic content. The foregoing, as a nutritional warning mechanism, promoting access to information in a visible, quick and easy-to-understand manner for consumers of such products, when marketed in the country and the rules applicable when imported from another country.

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

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Costa Rica – Ombudsman’s Office backs decision to eliminate order to hide front food labeling

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The Ombudsman’s Office supported the resolution of the Constitutional Chamber, announced yesterday, to eliminate the circular issued by the Ministry of Health that concealed the nutritional warning stamps on the front labeling of food. At the beginning of this month, the Ombudsman’s Office notified a report to the Ministry of Health in which it recommended to the Ministry to annul the circular, after an extensive technical and legal analysis.

The Ombudsman’s Office argued that the Ministry of Health did not demonstrate, with studies with quali-quantitative information, that the Front End Nutrition Warning Label (EFAN) of the imported products that carry it confused the consumer and that it had the corresponding legal basis. This investigation, in the opinion of this Ombudsman’s Office, should be carried out with the contributions of the academic sectors, professional associations and non-governmental organizations.

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

Mexico – Supreme Court of Justice of Mexico denies injunction against labeling to Herdez, McCormick, Del Fuerte and Nutrisa

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The Plenary of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (La Corte) determined the constitutionality of the provisions that regulate the front labeling for prepackaged food and non-alcoholic beverages, to indicate the products that exceed the maximum limits of energy content, added sugars, saturated fats, sodium and other critical nutrients established by the provisions:

  • Article 212, of the General Health Law.
  • The “Modification to the Mexican Official Standard NOM-051-SCFI/SSA1-2010, General labeling specifications for prepackaged food and non-alcoholic beverages – commercial and sanitary information”, published on March 27, 2020, particularly, paragraphs 4.5.3.4 and 7.1.3.
  • The Guidelines for the Organization of National Standardization Advisory Committees.
  • The Rules of Operation of the National Consultative Committee for Standardization.
  • The Rules of the National Consultative Committee for Standardization of Regulation and Sanitary Promotion.

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

Uruguay – Public Consultation on MERCOSUR Technical Regulations on additives for the manufacture of plastic materials and polymeric coatings in contact with foodstuffs

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Draft Resolution No. 14/23 seeks to update the positive list of additives for the manufacture of plastic materials and polymeric coatings intended to come into contact with food, by amending GMC Resolution No. 39/19.

The document put out for public consultation was prepared within the scope of the Food Commission (CA) of GTS No. 3 and aims to update Table I of the Annex to Resolution GMC No. 39/19, including the substances silver-magnesium-sodium-boron phosphate (silver glass) and diethylaminoethanol with the respective restrictions and specifications. For the preparation of the referred MERCOSUR Technical Regulation, Resolution GMC No. 03/92 on “Criteria for the application of the MERCOSUR Technical Regulation” was considered.
(External link) on “General criteria for food packaging and equipment in contact with food” and Resolution GMC No. 39/19 (External link), which approved the “General criteria for food packaging and equipment in contact with food”.
(External link) which approved the “MERCOSUR Technical Regulation on positive list of additives for the manufacture of plastic materials and polymeric coatings intended to come into contact with food”.

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

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Venezuela – Draft Venezuelan Standard COVENIN 5035:2024 Foods for celiac, non-celiac gluten-sensitive and wheat-allergic individuals

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The Decentralized Service for Standardization, Quality, Metrology and Technical Regulations (SENCAMER in Spanish) has published the Draft Venezuelan Standard COVENIN 5035:2024 Food for celiac, non-celiac gluten-sensitive and wheat-allergic people.
This standard applies to national and imported foods for immediate consumption and manufactured foods;
that are formulated, prepared, processed, packaged, stored, marketed and/or distributed to cover the special dietary needs of celiac, non-celiac gluten-sensitive and wheat-allergic people.

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

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