New Mexican Labeling Regulation to Hit January 2011
New Mexican Labeling Regulation to Hit January 2011
Mandatory labeling requirements that detail the nutrient composition and wholesomeness of food and beverages were approved by joint regulation of the Mexican Ministries of Health and Economy on April 5, and are scheduled to take effect Jan. 5, 2011.
“General Specifications for Labeling Pre-packaged Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages – Commercial and Wholesomeness Information” (NOM-051) will be applied to both domestic and imported pre-packaged items.
Following are some specific elements of the regulation:
Foods with only one ingredient (fresh/variety meat) will not have to include a nutritional label, but if they include a declaration of properties or health claim on the package (e.g. omega 3, no cholesterol, etc.), a nutrient label would be required.
The regulation does not apply to products packed at the point of sale (such as overwrapped fresh meat to be exhibited on supermarket shelves) or to case-ready fresh meat.
Any prepackaged imported product must show its origin in Spanish.
Nutritional labeling is no longer voluntary. It must include a declaration of the following items: total fat content, saturated fat, fiber, carbohydrates (sugar content), and contents of energy, protein, sodium and any other mentioned nutrient.
In addition, those meat products subject to nutritional labeling but which also claim (or suggest by means of graphics, figures, etc.) that an ingredient is in the food (for example, Omega 3 fatty acid or cholesterol), or when it is not explicit in the description or designated name of the food but the consumer assumes the nutrient is included, must include a quantitative list of the ingredients.
Labels also must include a “sell by” date or “best before” date. For products with a shelf life exceeding three months, the label must include the day, month and year. For products lasting three months or less, the label must include the day and month. The date format mm/dd/yyyy instead of the Mexican standard calendar date (dd/mm/yyyy) will not be considered a modification, so it will still be valid.
USMEF-Mexico staff will work with USMEF members and Mexican importers to better understand the implications of these new requirements, as needed.
For further details and to see an English translation of the NOM-51 labeling requirements, click here.
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The U.S. Meat Export Federation (www.USMEF.org) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, corn and soybean checkoff programs.
For more information, contact Jim Herlihy at jherlihy@usmef.org.
USMEF complies with all equal opportunity, non-discrimination and affirmative action measures applicable to it by contract, government rule or regulation or as otherwise provided by law.
New Mexican Labeling Regulation to Hit January 2011
Mandatory labeling requirements that detail the nutrient composition and wholesomeness of food and beverages were approved by joint regulation of the Mexican Ministries of Health and Economy on April 5, and are scheduled to take effect Jan. 5, 2011.
“General Specifications for Labeling Pre-packaged Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages – Commercial and Wholesomeness Information” (NOM-051) will be applied to both domestic and imported pre-packaged items.
Following are some specific elements of the regulation:
Foods with only one ingredient (fresh/variety meat) will not have to include a nutritional label, but if they include a declaration of properties or health claim on the package (e.g. omega 3, no cholesterol, etc.), a nutrient label would be required.
The regulation does not apply to products packed at the point of sale (such as overwrapped fresh meat to be exhibited on supermarket shelves) or to case-ready fresh meat.
Any prepackaged imported product must show its origin in Spanish.
Nutritional labeling is no longer voluntary. It must include a declaration of the following items: total fat content, saturated fat, fiber, carbohydrates (sugar content), and contents of energy, protein, sodium and any other mentioned nutrient.
In addition, those meat products subject to nutritional labeling but which also claim (or suggest by means of graphics, figures, etc.) that an ingredient is in the food (for example, Omega 3 fatty acid or cholesterol), or when it is not explicit in the description or designated name of the food but the consumer assumes the nutrient is included, must include a quantitative list of the ingredients.
Labels also must include a “sell by” date or “best before” date. For products with a shelf life exceeding three months, the label must include the day, month and year. For products lasting three months or less, the label must include the day and month. The date format mm/dd/yyyy instead of the Mexican standard calendar date (dd/mm/yyyy) will not be considered a modification, so it will still be valid.
USMEF-Mexico staff will work with USMEF members and Mexican importers to better understand the implications of these new requirements, as needed.
For further details and to see an English translation of the NOM-51 labeling requirements, click here.
# # #
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (www.USMEF.org) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, corn and soybean checkoff programs.
For more information, contact Jim Herlihy at jherlihy@usmef.org.
USMEF complies with all equal opportunity, non-discrimination and affirmative action measures applicable to it by contract, government rule or regulation or as otherwise provided by law.