Inacal establishes requirements for the commercialization of soft drinks or non-carbonated beverages

The National Institute of Quality (Inacal) approved the Peruvian Technical Standard NTP 203.111.2021 Refreshments – Requirements, which establishes the requirements that soft drinks or non-carbonated beverages for human consumption must meet, in order to standardize their processes and preserve the health of consumers.

The measure promoted by this institution, attached to the Ministry of Production, seeks that this type of products comply with standards and safety requirements for their trade in national and international markets.

“With the arrival of summer, soft drinks or non-carbonated drinks (box juices, bottle, and still drinks) are usually an alternative for some consumers, and to preserve the safety in their production processes, Inacal through this The technical standard offers the industry quality specifications so that its products are suitable for users ”, indicated Clara Gálvez, executive president of Inacal.

Inacal: requirements according to NTP 203.111: 2021

• Soft drinks may contain parts of the pulp of the fruit and / or finely divided vegetable.
• Product preservation can be achieved through heat treatments, by chemical, physical or other means, as required.
• The water used to make these products must comply with the provisions of current national legislation for drinking water.
• Vitamins can be added according to current regulatory codes.
• The soft drinks should have a uniform color, smell and characteristic flavor.
• They must be free of pathogenic microorganisms that affect the safety of the product and represent a health risk.

Regarding the containers for soft drinks, first-use containers should be used to ensure the safety and preservation of the product during storage, transportation, and sale. They must not transmit any toxic substance to the product, or strange odors or flavors.

In addition, the product must be stored and transported under optimal conditions of humidity, temperature and hygiene to avoid its decomposition, considering the application and use of the corresponding standards and good practice guides.

Finally, the label or label used for marketing must comply with current national legislation or with what is established in the Peruvian Technical Standard 209.038 and Peruvian Metrological Standard 001. Therefore, it should not have legends of ambiguous meaning, or description of the characteristics of the product. that cannot be verified.