The Ministry of Health and Social Protection announced on Apr. 22 that it has published a draft resolution for public comment, which aims to repeal Resolution 810 of 2021 and establish a new technical regulation for nutritional and front-of-package labeling requirements on processed foods and beverages.
The proposed regulation is intended to ensure that consumers receive clear and understandable nutritional information about ultraprocessed edible products as well as packaged or bottled foods for human consumption. The Ministry said the goal is to prevent misleading practices and enable consumers to make informed choices when purchasing food products.
According to the draft, these rules will apply to all ultraprocessed edible products, both domestic and imported, that are sold in the country. The new guidelines specify that nutritional labeling must provide an effective way for consumers to identify nutrient content, product components, and degree of processing directly from the label. The information must not misrepresent or create any false impressions regarding the nutritional content or health properties of a product.
The draft also states that labels should not suggest there is an exact quantitative knowledge about individual dietary needs but should instead disclose nutrient quantities contained in each product. It emphasizes adherence to evidence-based nutrition principles, ethical standards, social responsibility, and avoidance of conflicts of interest in food design and production.
All information presented on labels must be complete, truthful, verifiable, and free from confusion or deception. The Ministry invited stakeholders to submit comments on the proposal by April 29.
