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.
Problems related to health and safety come top the list of reasons why shipments of Guatemalan products are rejected in the US and Europe.
Pesticides, labeling, salmonella, processing, lack of information, products, lack of list of ingredients, aflatoxins and mislabelling, are in order the main causes of rejection by the FDA in the US.
Triclosan and triclocarban have been eliminated from the list of permitted substances for use in over the counter antibacterial hand soaps and bath gels.
From a press release by the FDA:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued a final rule establishing that over-the-counter (OTC) consumer antiseptic wash products containing certain active ingredients can no longer be marketed.
From August 8 premium handmade tobacco leaf cigars will be subject to the same regulation as cigarettes manufactured with additives.
A group of tobacco companies in Nicaragua will be holding meetings in the US with local companies who have invested in tobacco plantations and cigar factories in order to assess the impact of the entry into force of the new regulation.
As of October 15 inspectors from the US Food and Drug Administration will be carrying out spot checks on exporters of food and beverages.
The Corporation of Exporters of El Salvador (Coexport) announced that the inspections will start from October 15, and companies which export food and beverages will be selected at random for visits.
"... The FDA inspects product processing, food safety and sanitary and phytosanitary regulations.
The Food and Drug Administration has evaluated two varieties of apples and six potatoes which have been genetically modified and concluded that they are "as safe and nutritious as their conventional counterparts."
From a statement issued by the Food and Drug Administration of the United States (FDA):
The Food and Drug Administration of the United States (FDA) has completed its evaluation of two apple varieties which have been genetically engineered by Okanagan Specialty Fruits, Inc., and six potatoes genetically designed by JR Simplot Company and concluded that these foods are as safe and nutritious as their conventional counterparts.
With the Global GAP certification that they hope to obtain this year, with 12,000 hectares of crops Mexico projects that it will increase its fruit exports to the US market.
From a press release issued by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer) :
Mexico to increase mango exports
54% of the 135,000 tonnes of mango estimated to be produced in 2015 in Michoacán (about 73,000 tons) will be for export.
The deadline for food exporters to update their details with the Food and Drug Administration of USA is December 31, 2014.
From a statement issued by the Foreign Trade Promotion Office of Costa Rica (PROCOMER):
Every company which manufactures, processes, packs or holds food for human or animal consumption and export to the United States must renew its registration with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as part of the measures included in the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The deadline for this adjustment will be from 1 October to 31 December.
Starting August 5, 2014, any food product which is labeled on or after this date with a caption describing it as gluten free must comply with the requirements.
From a statement issued by the U.S.Food and Drug Administration (FDA):
In August 2013, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a final rule defining the characteristics required of a food carrying a label stating that it is "gluten free".
Approval is being awaited for the use of this labeling method on other fruits and vegetables in the next twelve months.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office:
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a laser coding system using natural light for use on citrus products, while leaving approval for other fruits and still pending but it is expected that this approval will come within a period of not more than 12 months.
Including information on food labels relating to "added sugars", updating serving sizes and calories are some of the changes proposed.
From a statement issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA):
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is proposing an update to the Nutrition Facts labels used on most packaged food in the United States. If the proposal goes through, the following will be some of the proposed changes.
A bill to subsidize the production of peanuts in the U.S. and an initiative that would restrict imports of machine-made tobacco has caused concern in the private sector.
The agricultural bill and the initiative sent to consultation by the FDA in the United States includes the establishment of $10 as the price parameter for classifying cigars as premium and in the case of peanuts, raising production of grain by 30% through the application of an agricultural subsidy.
A series of new rules proposed by the FDA are in public consultation with the aim of improving practices in sanitary food transportation and avoiding tampering.
From a press release by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture:
Two new proposals by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would force food producers and importers in the country to improve the practices of sanitary transportation of food and implement actions to prevent intentional adulteration. "
Videoconferencing on Friday March 7, 2014 on the "Proposed FDA regulations on the deliberate adulteration of food and on sanitary transportation".
In order to facilitate awareness in government officials, the Guatemalan private sector and technical staff at the Inter American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), about the promulgation of the new FDA regulations, the IICAA together with the Agricultural Sector at AGEXPORT will hold on Friday 7 March 2014, a video conference entitled "Proposed FDA regulations on the deliberate adulteration of food and sanitary transportation.
Products sold to U.S. are being detained or rejected because their labels are not in English or have incomplete information.
"A lot of products are being detained by the Food Drug Administration (FDA), because they do not meet simple requirements such as having a label, I understand this is the reason why there is a considerable amount of rejection," said Gonzalo Ibanez, associate regional director of the FDA.
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