Brazil – A bill prohibiting the supply of ultra-processed foods in the public transportation system is presented in the Chamber of Deputies

/ infoAlimentario

Bill 1094/26, presented by Deputy Sidney Leite (PSD-AM), prohibits air, rail, land, and river transport companies operating in Brazil from offering ultra-processed foods to passengers. The text is currently under review in the Chamber of Deputies.

According to the Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population from the Ministry of Health, ultra-processed foods are those produced industrially and that have a high content of additives (such as preservatives, sweeteners, and colorants), sugars, fats, and sodium.

“The proposal aims to promote healthier food environments.” In addition to promoting the substitution of fresh or minimally processed foods, the measure helps to raise public awareness about food safety and reduce the negative impacts of excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods,” states the project author.

Brazil – Supreme Court of Justice compiles resolutions on the right to information in product packaging and labeling

/ infoAlimentario

The Superior Court of Justice (TSJ) published a compilation of resolutions related to the right to information about the packaging and labeling of products sold in the country, in order to ensure that consumers have access to essential data about the composition and health risks, without imposing unfeasible or disproportionate burdens on suppliers.

Among the notable precedents, the Superior Court of Justice (STJ), in the ruling of Special Appeal No. 1,185,323, established that beers with an alcohol content of up to 0.5% cannot bear the designation “non-alcoholic” on their labels. Under the direction of Minister Laurita Vaz, the court ruled that, although the administrative regulation classifies such beverages as non-alcoholic, the protection guidelines of the Consumer Protection Code (CPC) prevail to prevent the public—especially people with medical or religious restrictions—from being misled.

On the contrary, in the ruling REsp No. 1,605,489, the Third Panel exempted wine producers from indicating sodium and calorie values, understanding that the sector has its own regulations from the Ministry of Agriculture and that the principle of specialty should guide the labeling of such beverages.

Another relevant precedent analyzed by the Court, REsp 1.788.075, refers to the presence of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), popularly known as transgenic organisms. The Court validated a federal decree that limits the mandatory labeling of GMOs only to foods with a concentration higher than 1%, justifying that minimal accidental contamination during the storage and transportation of grains would make production unfeasible if the absolute absence of traces were required.

Argentina – Incorporation into the Food Code: MERCOSUR Resolution on the Use of Starches in Very High Moisture Cheeses

/ infoAlimentario

Thru Joint Resolution No. 05/2026, the National Administration of Medicines, Food and Medical Technology (ANMAT in Spanish) and the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries incorporate into the national legal framework the GMC Resolution No. 14/23 “MERCOSUR Technical Regulation on the use of starches in very high moisture cheeses.”

The measure incorporates into the Argentine Food Code a regulatory update agreed upon by the MERCOSUR Member States, which harmonizes the conditions for the use of starches and modified starches in certain categories of very high moisture cheeses.

Main aspects of the update:

  • It authorizes the use of starches and modified starches as optional ingredients in cheeses with moisture content greater than or equal to 55 g/100 g.
  • It establishes that these products must be thermally treated and take the shape of the container or wrapping that holds them at the time of packaging.
  • It defines a maximum incorporation limit of 1% (m/m) in the final product.
  • Harmonizes Argentine regulations with the technical criteria in force within the MERCOSUR framework.

The modification is incorporated into Article 605 of the Argentine Food Code and responds to the need to keep national food legislation up to date in accordance with the technical and regulatory advances applicable to the production of dairy products.

Almidon documentDownload

Argentina – ANMAT updates requirements for packaging, plastic equipment, and cellulosic equipment intended to come into contact with food

/ infoAlimentario

Thru Joint Resolution No 06/2026, the National Administration of Medicines, Food and Medical Technology (ANMAT in Spanish) and the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries incorporate the Common Market Group (GMC) Resolutions No. 19/21, 20/21, and 21/21 into the national legal framework in order to keep the standards on materials, packaging, and cellulosic equipment intended to come into contact with food up to date. The measure incorporates modifications to the current regulations on plastic packaging and equipment, as well as on cellulosic materials, packaging, and equipment intended to come into contact with food, with the aim of keeping the regulatory framework updated in accordance with the technical advances achieved in the regional context.

Main aspects of the update:

  • Updates the positive list of monomers, other starting substances, and polymers authorized for the manufacture of plastic packaging and equipment in contact with food.
  • Incorporates modifications to the general provisions applicable to plastic packaging and equipment intended for contact with food.
  • Updates the technical regulation for cellulosic materials, containers, and equipment intended to be in contact with food.
  • Aligns national regulations with the technical criteria in force within the MERCOSUR framework.

Materiales documentDownload

Argentina – ANMAT updates the Food Code to set arsenic limits in rice

/ infoAlimentario

Thru Joint Resolution No. 04/2026, the National Administration of Medicines, Food and Medical Technology (ANMAT) and the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries incorporated MERCOSUR Resolution No. 18/21 into the national legal framework, which updates the maximum limits of inorganic contaminants for the category “Rice and its derivatives, except oil,” specifically in relation to arsenic. The measure updates the MERCOSUR Technical Regulation on Maximum Limits of Inorganic Contaminants in Food, previously incorporated into the Argentine Food Code, with the aim of aligning national regulations with technical and scientific advances in food safety.

Main aspects of the update:

  • Harmonizes Argentine regulations with the standards in force within the MERCOSUR framework.
  • Updates the maximum permitted limits of arsenic for the category “Rice and its derivatives, except oil.”
  • Strengthens the protection of consumer health by adjusting the criteria for controlling inorganic contaminants in food.
  • It helps ensure the safety and quality of the food marketed in the country.

Likewise, Article 156 of the Argentine Food Code is updated, which establishes the maximum permitted limits for various metallic and non-metallic elements in food, incorporating the modifications approved at the regional level.

Arroz documentDownload