Summary.
The bill establishes a framework for foods intended for human consumption that contain trans and/or saturated fats and are manufactured, processed, prepared, packaged, transported, sold, imported, exported, stored or distributed within the national territory. It seeks to provide consumers with information about packaged foods. Its scope covers oils, fats and packaged foods, whether domestic or imported, marketed in the Republic of Panama. It excludes infant formulas and foods complementary to breast milk, which remain subject to the applicable rules on composition and nutritional requirements.
The provisions define food, packaged food, saturated fats, trans fats, nutrients, and the forms of labeling and nutrition labeling used in the bill. Statements about trans and/or saturated fats must be truthful, must not misrepresent a product’s fat content, and must state the amount in grams per serving. The statement must appear in Spanish, although another language may also be used. If the original label is in another language, a supplementary label must be attached in a visible place.
Trans fatty acid content in covered foods, including ingredients used by the food industry and inputs for bakeries, restaurants and catering services, may not exceed two ( 2) grams per 100 grams of fat. Naturally occurring trans fatty acids in animal fats from ruminant meat and its derivatives and in dairy products are exempt from that limit. The bill specifies how grams of trans fat per serving must be expressed at different content levels and permits a declaration of zero when the amount is less than 0,5 g. It also requires saturated fat to appear in the nutrition information table when it reaches 0,5 g per serving. For packaged foods containing trans and/or saturated fats, the nutrition information table is required when the relevant amount is equal to or greater than 0,5 g per serving, regardless of its origin or whether any nutrition or health claim is made.
The National Directorate for Food Control and Veterinary Surveillance (Dirección Nacional de Control de Alimentos y Vigilancia Veterinaria, DINACAVV), within the Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud), would carry out inspection, surveillance and control. Its regional offices would collect samples, and laboratories authorized by the Ministry of Health with the necessary analytical capacity would quantify the fat content. The Ministry of Health and Social Protection (Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social) would review the requirements in light of the specified scientific and technological developments. Health authorities would inform covered individuals and businesses about the provisions and the consequences of noncompliance, and conduct public information, education and communication activities. The Executive Branch (Órgano Ejecutivo), through the Ministry of Health, would issue implementing regulations within a period not exceeding three (3) months from promulgation; the bill sets entry into force for the following day.
The public bodies involved are the Ministry of Health, DINACAVV, the National Directorate for Food Control and Veterinary Surveillance, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, and the Executive Branch. The provisions concern the food industry, importers, exporters, distributors, retailers, bakeries, restaurants, catering services and consumers.
What it proposes.
- Trans fatty acid content in food for human consumption.
- Disclosure of trans and saturated fats in nutrition labeling.
- Inspection, sampling and public health information.
Who it would affect.
- Manufacturers, processors and packagers of covered foods.
- Importers, exporters, carriers, distributors and retailers of those foods.
- Bakeries, restaurants and catering services using oils or fats as ingredients.
Key points.
- The bill covers domestic and imported oils, fats and packaged foods marketed for human consumption in the Republic of Panama; it excludes infant formulas and foods complementary to breast milk.Arts. 1-2
- It defines foods, nutrients, types of fats and labeling terms used in its provisions.Art. 3
- It requires truthful disclosure of trans and/or saturated fat in grams per serving, in Spanish or on a visible supplementary label.Art. 4
- It limits trans fatty acids to two ( 2) grams per 100 grams of fat, with an exception for naturally occurring trans fats in ruminant fats and dairy products.Art. 5
- It sets rules for expressing trans fat per serving and requires nutrition information when trans or saturated fat reaches 0,5 g per serving.Arts. 5-6
- It assigns inspection, surveillance and control to DINACAVV, with regional sampling and testing by authorized laboratories.Art. 7
- It provides for review of the requirements and public communication about the rules, the consequences of noncompliance and health effects.Arts. 8-9
- It requires implementing regulations from the Executive Branch within a period not exceeding three (3) months and provides for entry into force the day after promulgation.Arts. 10-11