The Ministry of Health (MINSAL in Spanish) published a project on Modification of the Food Sanitary Regulation (RSA) DS.977/96, Article 120 bis, on the provision on the label of the symbols “ALTO EN”. This proposal has been prepared by MINSAL, with the objective of updating the graphic This proposal has been elaborated by MINSAL, with the objective of updating the graphic layout of the labeling of more than one “ALTO EN…”, established in article 120 bis of the Food Sanitary Regulation, in order to make better use of the
to make better use of the area of the main side of the food label and to facilitate the placement of the “ALTO EN…” symbols. facilitate the placement of the “HIGH IN” symbols on imported products.
labeling
Mexico – Supreme Court refuses to deny injunctions against labeling of products
This week, the Supreme Court of Justice of Mexico (SCJN) will resolve three appeals against the front labeling of industrialized foods. In all cases, the draft rulings order to ratify the constitutionality of this regulation, stating that the right to health of consumers is superior to the interests of the market.
The first of these amparos, filed by the company El corazón del fruto SA de CV, was scheduled to be voted on last year, but the judges of the second chamber decided to postpone it in order to resolve the three cases on the same issue simultaneously.
The other amparos were filed by Herdez SA de CV, and by Santa Clara Mercantil de Pachuca SA.
All the draft rulings coincide in denying the amparos requested, due to the fact that the purpose of the challenged NOM is legitimate: “to avoid the consumption, preferably in minors, of those products containing added caffeine (immediate purpose), since said alkaloid is the one used in carbonated beverages which, as well as other ultra-processed products, are associated with the development of non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes, one of the main causes of mortality in Mexico”, states Minister Alberto Pérez Dayán in one of the proposed rulings.
Article/Mexico – Labeling of pre-packaged and pre-labeled foods has a positive impact on consumption habits
Objective: To determine if the modifications made to the NOM-051-SCFI/SSA-2010, relative to the labelling of harmful pre-packaged foods has induced changes in the consumption habits of the Mexicans.
Materials and Methods: A survey in Goggle Forms was configured to research into the consumption habits of pre-packaged foods, both previous to the introduction of the aforementioned changes in the NOM-051-SCFI/SSA-2010 norm, and with the norm in force. Significant differences were determined by a paired Student’s t test.
Results: The consumption pf pre-packaged foods was significantly reduced during NOM-051-SCFI/SSA-2010 norm’s force (p≤0.0001). Nonetheless, the majority of the surveyed population still thinks that healthier pre-packaged foods must be introduced into the market, rather than having the labelling norm in place.
Conclusions: Food labeling has been detected to improve the consumption habits of the surveyed population, inducing a significant reduction on the consumption of labelled foods.
Peru: Labeling standard for agricultural foodstuffs published
The Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (Midagri in Spanish) published Supreme Decree No. 006-2022-MIDAGRI that amends Article 27 of the Agri-Food Safety Regulation, which provides that primary agricultural foodstuffs must have more information through their labeling, documentation, technical data sheet or relevant information.
In the specific case of imported and domestic primary processed agricultural foods, the Spanish-language label shall contain the following information:
a. Name of the food.
b. Net content.
c. Country of origin or place of origin.
d. Name and address of the holder of the sanitary authorization.
e. Name and address of the importer, if applicable.
f. Sanitary Authorization of Primary Agricultural Food Processing Establishment.
g. Lot Identification.
h. Expiration Date or best before date.
i. Instructions for use and storage”.
Around the World – Spain: Exceptional and temporary labeling measures under Regulation (EU) 1169/2011
The regulation (twentieth additional provision) will allow companies to relabel products whose composition has been reformulated as long as the availability of certain resources is compromised for supply reasons.
Operators will therefore be able to use adhesive labels or stickers, ink-jet printing or other equivalent systems. The mandatory requirement is that they contain updated information on the ingredients replacing those previously used.
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