Within the framework of the III Meeting of Directors of Central American Economic Integration, which took place from November 20 to 22 in Managua, and coordinated by the Ministry of Development, Industry and Commerce (MIFIC in Spanish) in the exercise of the Pro-Tempore Presidency of Central American Integration, it was agreed, among other things, to update the Central American Technical Regulations (RCTA en español) on Food Additives, which will be submitted to the Council of Ministers of Economic Integration (COMIECO en español ) for its approval.

The Ministry of Health Secretariat of Health Quality and Secretariat of Bioeconomy has published Joint Resolution 12/2024, which updates the specifications of identity and purity of several food additives described in Article 1398 of the Argentine Food Code.

On the purity specifications, the specifications for heavy metals provided by the EU are also incorporated, since several additives include restrictions for more metals than those specified by JECFA.

It was agreed not to include in the detailed specifications the functions assigned to each additive, since these are described in Resolution GMC No. 11/06, MERCOSUR Technical Regulation on “Harmonized General List of Food Additives and their functional classes”, which is currently under revision within MERCOSUR.

In this 6th edition, question 4 on additives regularization was adapted considering the publication of DRC No 843/2024 and IN No 281/2024. Question 17 has been updated with the inclusion of the recent food additive regulations published in Mercosur.
Question 19 was included providing clarification on harmonization in Mercosur in relation to technological aids. Question 24 was reworded to specify the chapter containing the approval of the use of ozone in the treatment of drinking water. Questions 26 and 27 were included to clarify the application of the carry-over principle in the case of flavorings and in the case of additives allowed in fruit preparations added to fermented milks. Duplicate information in the Table
in question 31 were deleted and guidance on the labeling of other additives was included. The answer to question 38 has been reworded to clarify that the limit is applicable for the coloring ingredient that has identity and purity specifications, not for the ingredient added to diluents/vehicles.

The National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA in Portuguese) has published an amendment to the Normative Instruction – IN nº 211, of March 1, 2023, which establishes the technological functions, maximum limits and conditions of use of food additives and technological aids authorized for use in food.

The National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA in Portuguese) has published Normative Instruction – INº 303/2024 , which amends Normative Instruction No. 211/2023 on technological functions, maximum limits and conditions of use of food additives and technological aids authorized for use in food.