The Ministry of Health and Social Protection announced on March 24 the publication of a draft regulatory impact analysis regarding nutritional labeling and front-of-package warning labels. The document is now open for public comment.
The initiative aims to address regulatory shortcomings in the market for ultra-processed food and beverage products by introducing clear, visible, and accessible nutritional labeling. This is intended to help consumers make informed choices, reduce health risks associated with consumption, and promote fairer conditions among market participants.
According to the Ministry, the intervention is designed so that everyone can quickly and effectively understand critical nutrient information without facing barriers that limit their ability to make informed dietary decisions. The policy also seeks to prevent increased consumption of low-nutritional-value products and energy imbalances linked to chronic non-communicable diseases resulting from unhealthy diets.
The analysis notes that some product reformulations have led to the absence of labels identifying ultra-processing, even though these items may still contain harmful additives or processing methods. The Ministry said it will introduce measures to improve this identification process. “This intends to avoid advantages based on minimal reductions in ingredients or substitutes—particularly certain additives and processing—that together are equally harmful to health,” according to the release. It further states that such measures would prevent superficial reformulation strategies from confusing consumers or encouraging greater consumption of foods that pose a risk to public health.
Given the potential implications for industry stakeholders, the Ministry invites interested parties to submit comments no later than March 31.
