The rules for food companies and producers, on the management of food allergens, were approved. These rules can be adopted by the legislation of each country and thus harmonize the requirements of trading partners.
The standards, which will apply to cereals containing gluten, crustaceans and their products, eggs and egg products, fish and fishery products, peanuts, soybeans and their products, milk and milk products, and nuts and their derivatives, were approved by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC43), the body responsible for all actions related to the implementation of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme and which focus on protecting the health of consumers and ensuring fair practices in their marketing, reported the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC).
Due to the possible change in the regulations established by the European Union on the use of agrochemicals in the production of the fruit that enters their territory, exporters in the region are on the alert for the possible complications that this would generate in the commercialization.
In order to protect the health of consumers, European authorities could vary the maximum residue limits (MRL's) that food entering the region may contain.
The Ministry of Health of Guatemala published in the Official Newspaper the agreement that regulates the commercialization of antibiotics and ophthalmological steroids, and granted 30 days for pharmacies to begin to implement the restrictions.
The regulation that will begin to govern was approved by the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS) on August 7, and stipulates that antimicrobial drugs (oral and parenteral antibiotics) and ophthalmic steroids, must be sold after being prescribed. See full agreement.
Deputies of the Guatemalan Congress ask that the agreement that regulates the commercialization of antibiotics and ophthalmological steroids, recently approved by the Executive Branch, be repealed.
Controversy between representatives of the legislature and the executive began after the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS) approved Agreement 181-2019 on August 7, 2019, which stipulates that antimicrobial drugs (oral and parenteral antibiotics) and ophthalmic steroids must be sold with a prescription. See full agreement.
An agreement regulating the sale of antibiotics and ophthalmic steroids in the country was approved, which can now only be sold with a prescription.
On August 7, 2019, the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS) approved Agreement 181-2019, which stipulates that antimicrobial drugs (oral and parenteral antibiotics) and ophthalmic steroids must be sold after being prescribed.
Exporters are preparing for the new regulation that will be implemented from 2020 in the U.S. market, among which is the application of a new table of nutritional data in packaged products.
Representatives of the Guatemalan Association of Exporters (Agexport) reported that both U.S. and foreign companies exporting to the U.S., must comply with new food labeling standards.
Limiting the fees charged in Costa Rica and establishing a law that defines market limits in Guatemala are part of the attempts being made in the region to regulate the use of credit cards.
A law proposal presented last January before the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica, aims to regulate the percentage of the commission paid by businesses for credit or debit cards.
Standardizing procedures and applying administrative silence in favor of the taxpayer, are some of the proposals that Congress has received for reforming the current regulations.
Due to the widespread delay in the tax refunds which is still harming the majority of the companies in the country, the Central American Institute of Fiscal Studies (Icefi), the Center for National Economic Research (Cien) and the Association of Exporters (Agexport), delivered to the Economic Commission at the Guatemalan Congress, a proposal to modify the regulations that are currently applied.
On February 28, a free seminar on the safety regulations that Canadian authorities require to market food will be held in Guatemala City.
From a statement issued by Agexport:
The Business Intelligence Unit at the Market Development and Commercial Promotion Department of AGEXPORT and the Embassy of Canada in Guatemala are calling on exporters who have experience in exporting food to the Canadian market.
The regulation being prepared by the Superintendency of Banks will include simplified procedures for signing contracts, paying premiums, renewals and claims made with this type of insurance.
Now that the process of public consultation of the new regulation has ended, the Superintendency of Banks is preparing to present it to the Monetary Board for approval.
The new law requires companies operating under the regime to report to the ministries of Labor and Economy data on wages paid and investments made.
Government Agreement 52-2017 published in the newspaper Diario de Centroamérica details the information that must be provided by companies registered under the free zone regime.
From May 22 to 27 Panama will be hosting the ISOTC228 Committee meeting on Tourism and Related Services, which oversees the quality of tourism internationally.
From a statement issued by the Tourism Authority of Panama:
From May 22 to 27 Panama will be hosting the twelfth plenary meeting of the ISOTC228 Committee on Tourism and Related Services, an organization that aims to ensure the quality of tourism internationally.
The new rule of law to promote export and maquila activity includes requirements that companies must meet in order to qualify as Producers for the Clothing and Textiles industry.
On January 10 Government Agreement No. 3-2017 concerning amendments to Government Agreement No. 533-89 "Regulations of the Law on the Promotion and Development of Export and Maquila Activities" was published in the official newspaper.
As of December 13 all processed and packaged food and beverages to be sold in the European Union must include detailed nutritional information.
From a statement issued by PROCOMER:
In 2014 in the European Union, the European Regulation on Information and Food Labelling (Regulation 1169/2011) came into force.The standard improves labeling on all products in order to provide useful, readable and understandable information to consumers.