Colombia – Council of State urges Ministry of Health to regulate Law 2120 on healthy food environments

05/11/2022 / infoAlimentario

The Council of State warned of the existence of an imperative and unobjectionable mandate, in the head of the Ministry of Health, to regulate the technical parameters of the front labeling which incorporates a warning seal that all edible or drinkable products classified according to the level of processing with excessive amount of critical nutrients established by this portfolio must have, for which it must be based on the best scientific evidence available and free of conflict of interest, which may take into account that provided by the WHO.

“Council of State. Contentious-Administrative Chamber. Fifth Section. “According to the Ministry’s statement, which accepts and complements the Court’s decision, the duty to regulate is seen to have been fulfilled by: (i) the issuance of Resolution 810 of July 16, 2021; (ii) the steps taken to review and modify said resolution in consideration of the new guidelines contained in Law 2120 of 2021 and”……

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

Uruguay – Sale of food labeled with warning stamps to be banned in schools

05/11/2022 / infoAlimentario

Foods and beverages labeled with black octagons for having added fats, sugars and/or sodium may not be marketed in Uruguayan schools and high schools as of 2024. Potato chips, cola, cookies and alfajores are some of the products that will not be allowed to be purchased.

The change was made through the Accountability Law and modifies Article 4 of the Healthy Food Law (Nº19.140), which prohibits the advertising in educational centers of foods and beverages not included in the list of healthy products prepared by the MSP. This change prohibits, in addition to their promotion, the sale of these products.

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

Colombia – Labeling of Ultraprocessed Foods: Regulatory Impact Analysis

05/11/2022 / infoAlimentario

The issue is so important that the Minsalud has conducted an analysis of the regulatory impact on the front warning labeling on packaged foods, which we review today in CONSULTORSALUD.

According to data presented by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, one out of every four people who die in the country has NCDs such as ischemic heart disease, cardiovascular diseases, hypertensive diseases and diabetes as the main cause. In Colombia, according to the National Nutritional Situation Survey (ENSIN), the consumption of packaged products and fast foods increased and fresh and natural foods decreased compared to previous years.

ley_2120_de_2021 Descarga

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

Mexico – Supreme Court to vote on appeals against food labeling rule

05/11/2022 / infoAlimentario

Next week, the Supreme Court of Justice of Mexico will discuss and vote on the draft ruling of the injunction requested against the labeling of prepackaged food and beverages, which states that the regulation to label these products does not violate any constitutional right.
This amparo request was formulated by the company Desde el corazón del fruto, better known as Barrilito, a Coca-Cola brand, which is under amparo number 358/2022 and is the first to reach the Court, although Zúñiga estimated that 120 amparo requests were filed in the first instance.

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

Colombia – Bill on public policy on breastfeeding approved

05/11/2022 / infoAlimentario

The bill sets out the guidelines for “the public policy on breastfeeding, incentive for human milk banks and complementary feeding”.

In the Seventh Commission of the Senate of the Republic, the representative to the Chamber Nadia Blel Scaff, headed the Bill 138 of 2022 which aims at the “creation of public policy on breastfeeding”, providing newborns “all the nutrients they need to grow and for their immune system to fully develop”.