The healthy eating law in force since 2018 determined that all processed foods must carry octagons when they reach or exceed a certain level of sugar, sodium and saturated fat, to inform that their consumption is harmful to health.
Despite this, the Congress of the Republic, inadvertently, approved in plenary session that baby formulas or special supplements consumed by vulnerable people do not carry such warnings on their packaging, even when they are products with high amounts of sugar, according to specialists.
In the autograph sent to Executive powerwhich supposedly seeks to regulate the marketing of these products, states in its article 2 that “The rules that regulate the labeling and advertising of industrial or natural foods are not applicable that are not strictly foods for special diets”.
The lawyer specialized in consumer law jamie delgado denounces that the pharmaceutical lobby is behind the measure, since in August 2021 the Supreme Court declared the nullity of the regulation that favored these products, excluding them from the scope of the octagons, due to a popular action presented by the Public Ministry.
“Congress surprises us with a law, product of the tremendous lobby of the pharmaceutical industry, again excluding formulas from the placement of the octagons, depriving us of the right to information, to enjoy good health and not give pure sugar to our babies,” he said.
the legislators elva julon and rosio torres (Alliance for Progress) are the authors of the two bills that shaped the autograph that would respond to business interests. The Government of Dina Boluarte has until May 30 to observe the document or promulgate it.
Use of sticker would be permanent
This would not be the only attack against public health promoted by Congress.
On Monday, May 22, the Consumer Defense Commission approved by majority an opinion so that importers and mypes can distribute their products with “difficult to remove” adhesives, although the norm indicates that they must be printed and the College of Nutritionists of the Peru considers it a health risk.
Former Health Minister Víctor Zamora maintained at the time that the initiative presented by Congresswoman María del Carmen Alva (Popular Action) “is the product of the lobby” of the industry that has always been against permanent octagons.
Paradoxically, during the debate in committee, Adriana Tudela (Avanza País) said that the measure was necessary so as not to affect consumers. “International suppliers are hardly going to adapt their packaging to a specific regulation and by not being able to put a sticker, what they will have as an alternative will be to stop importing to Peru, “he said.
The head of this working group, Elias Varas (Perú Bicentenario), coincided with Tudela, and asked “not to discourage imports because there are products that are already regulars for the national consumer.”
Term expires in June 2023
The use of octagons in the form of stickers is allowed until June 31 of this yearaccording to the fourth extension of the term that was granted to the companies.
A product will carry an octagon for exceeding sugar when it exceeds 22.5 grams per 100 gr in solids or 6 gr/100 gr in liquids, and in saturated fats, 6 gr per 100 gr (solids) and 3 gr per 100 gr (liquids).
Source: Larepublica
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