The Americas – Colombia: The legal loopholes left by the regulation of cannabis for industrial use

29/03/202230/03/2022 / infoAlimentario

According to Luz Helena Vargas, the first legal loophole has to do with CBD, “because although the authorities gave the green light to the use of THC products, CBD products are much more commercially attractive, a category for which will still be subject to the regulations issued by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection,” she explained.
Second, for now there is no regulation on the microbiological requirements for foods containing this ingredient (plant component, grain and non-psychoactive derivative of cannabis), therefore, “if an application is submitted at this time, it is not possible to start the procedures immediately, you have to wait until the ministry defines the specific requirements that these products must meet,” he said.

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

The Americas – Costa Rica: New law on the use of hemp for industrial purposes in food and beverages

07/03/2022 / infoAlimentario

The President of the Republic, Carlos Alvarado, signed the “Law of Cannabis for Medicinal and Therapeutic Use and Hemp for Food and Industrial Use” No. 10,113 after the efforts of the Legislative Assembly to approve the bill in second debate, considering the partial veto issued by the Executive Branch that allowed correcting some inconsistencies in the original text.

One of its objectives is to authorize the production, industrialization and commercialization of hemp for industrial and food use and cannabis for exclusively medicinal and therapeutic purposes, and its derivative products.

The executive has expressed its commitment to have the regulation ready before the end of the current administration.

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

Article: Elements for the design of a tax levied to foods and beverages high in sodium, fats and/or sugars in Colombia

20/02/2022 / infoAlimentario

A broad international evidence shows that diets high in sodium, saturated and trans fats, and added sugars are risk factors for the development of obesity, cardiovascular diseases and type II diabetes. Therefore, this have motivated nearly 50 countries to implement “healthy taxes” to discourage the intake of some products with a high-density level of these nutrients, most of them being taxes to sweetened beverages. Through a literature review about the international experiences regarding “healthy taxes” and the estimation of a quadratic demand model (QUAIDS), this study analyzes the potential impact of different types of taxes on foods and beverages high in sodium, fats and/or sugars in Colombia on (i) the intake of these nutrients, (ii) the government revenue collection and (iii) the households’ available income for different income levels.