Summary.
The bill would require nutritional labeling for food products produced or imported for human consumption in the Republic of Panama (República de Panamá). Its provisions would apply to individuals and legal entities that manufacture, prepare, distribute, or market food or beverages. Manufacturers, importers, producers, and marketers would be responsible for ensuring that label information is complete and truthful. They would also have to ensure that food production follows good manufacturing practices that safeguard food safety within the part of the production chain in which they participate.
Packages or labels would have to list ingredients and all additives in descending order of proportion, together with nutritional information stated as a percentage composition, unit of weight, or under the nomenclature prescribed by existing regulations. Labels would have to include at least energy, sugars, sodium, saturated fats, and any other items specified by the Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud). A package or label would also have to disclose whether a product contains, or was made using, soy, milk, peanuts, eggs, shellfish, fish, gluten, or tree nuts. The Ministry of Health would regulate the form, size, colors, proportions, features, and content of nutritional labels, with attention to visibility and ease of understanding.
Educational institutions nationwide would have to have a nutritionist and include instructional, physical, and educational activities concerning healthy eating and the effects of a diet excessive in the nutrients identified by the bill. The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education (Ministerio de Educación) would establish a mandatory nutritional monitoring system for General Basic Education and Secondary Education students, to guide them in following healthy lifestyles. Food advertising in mass media would have to carry a message promoting healthy habits, with its characteristics set by the Ministry of Health.
The Ministry of Health (Ministerio de salud), in coordination with the Authority for Consumer Protection and Defense of Competition (Autoridad de Libre Competencia y Asuntos del Consumidor), would issue regulations to ensure the accuracy of food label information and establish penalties for violations. The Ministry of Health would direct the Nutritional Labeling Policy and set technical implementation parameters. Regulations would define, using criteria from international health and food organizations, when critical or allergenic ingredients are present in excess and must be reflected in Nutritional Warning Labels. Food and beverages exceeding the applicable limits would have to carry the corresponding warnings. Obligated parties would have up to one year after the law takes effect to adjust their labels. The Executive Branch would regulate the proposed law, which would take effect on the day after its promulgation.
The bill concerns the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, and the Authority for Consumer Protection and Defense of Competition. Its provisions could affect food and beverage manufacturers, importers, distributors, and marketers, as well as educational institutions, students, and mass media.
What it proposes.
- Nutritional labeling of food and beverages for human consumption.
- Disclosure of ingredients, additives, and allergens.
- Warnings for critical nutrients and ingredients.
- Nutrition education and monitoring, and messages in food advertising.
Who it would affect.
- Food and beverage manufacturers, producers, preparers, and importers.
- Food and beverage distributors and marketers.
- Educational institutions nationwide.
- Those who advertise food through mass media.
Key points.
- Subjects food products produced or imported for human consumption in the Republic of Panama to nutritional labeling requirements and binds those who manufacture, prepare, distribute, or market them.Arts. 1-3
- Makes manufacturers, importers, producers, and marketers responsible for complete and truthful labeling and for good manufacturing practices in the part of the production chain in which they participate.Art. 4
- Requires disclosure of ingredients and additives in descending order, nutritional information, and the presence or use of the listed allergens.Arts. 5-6
- Directs the Ministry of Health to define label characteristics and provides for nutrition education and monitoring in educational institutions.Arts. 7-9
- Requires a healthy habits message in mass media food advertising and calls for regulations on label accuracy and penalties for violations.Arts. 10-11
- Assigns the Ministry of Health responsibility for the Nutritional Labeling Policy and calls for regulatory criteria to identify excess critical or allergenic ingredients.Arts. 12-13
- Requires nutritional warnings on products exceeding applicable limits and allows up to one year after entry into force to adjust labels.Arts. 14-15
- Entrusts implementation regulations to the Executive Branch and sets entry into force for the day after promulgation.Arts. 16-17