The Consumer Protection and Competition Defense Authority (ACODECO) announces Law 543 of July 7, 2026, published in Official Gazette No. 30,562, which establishes the mandatory identification of the origin of food products and the differentiation of original products, substitutes, and imitations that are marketed in the country.

The law stipulates that commercial establishments must clearly identify, on shelves, racks, refrigerators, or coolers, whether the products are of national or imported origin, also indicating the country of origin. In the case of substitute or imitation products, visible notices must be placed to warn of this condition, and they must be physically separated from the original products to avoid confusion among consumers. Likewise, the regulation establishes that imported food products must be marketed under the same conditions in which they were introduced into the country, preserving their technical specifications and origin. In the case of frozen meat products, they cannot be thawed or modified to be presented as fresh national products.

The institution will also develop, in coordination with the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) and the Ministry of Health (Minsa), guidance and education campaigns aimed at both consumers and economic agents, with the purpose of facilitating the correct application of the new regulations and promoting informed consumption.

Acodeco urges economic agents to take advantage of the one-year period prior to the law coming into effect to make the necessary adjustments and comply with the new obligations. Likewise, it reiterates its commitment to guiding suppliers and consumers during this process, in order to ensure an orderly and effective implementation of this important legislation.