So far, many people thought Latin America had eight FOP labelling approved, however there is a ninth one already published in Venezuela.

Last year the Ministry of People's Power for Health published Resolution N° 11/2020 ?Regulation on labelling and consumption of high sodium manufactured foods?.

According to this resolution those products exceeding 600 mg of sodium/100 g or 300 mgof sodium/100 ml shall bear a black and white octagon with the warning stamen ?HIGH IN? for such nutrient (see the logo below).

 

 

These products shall also display the mandatory statement ?El Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Salud advierte que el consume excesivo de sal o sodio es nocivo para la salud? (The Ministry of People's Power for Health warns that excessive consumption of salt or sodium is harmful to health).

Regarding the exceptions, the regulation only mentions that salt itself and food additives containing sodium are excepted of showing the FOP labelling scheme and the mandatory statement. This way, companies have until January 2022 to adapt their products labels, being imported products allowed to use stickers. 

In addition, the Ministry drafted a proposal that seeks to complete the FOP labelling rules by adding the corresponding logos for free sugar, and saturated and trans fats, adopting the nutrient profiles from the Pan American Health Organization launched in 2016. The already mandatory statement for sodium would be also applicable for these last nutrients in products exceeding the thresholds.

It is worth mentioning that, the proposal was opened for public consultation during May 2021 (15 days only), and none of both text have been notified to the World Trade Organization, nor have they published on the official websites of the Ministry or the Autonomous Service of Sanitary Control (SARCS) yet, which are important actions to be considered in the future by national authorities for the promotion and dissemination of the new regulations and technical standards, since the publication of the second resolution is still pending and there are some mandatory COVENIN technical standards of interest such those on general labelling and on food additives being reviewed.?????????

Reach out to us to know more about on how to label food and beverages in Latin America and the Caribbean.