Honduras has extended the comment period for nutrition labelling of pre-packaged foods for consumers aged three and over, allowing stakeholders until 17 June 2024 to provide feedback on the Central American Technical Regulation.
Honduras Extends Comment Period for Food Labels
Stakeholders have more time to weigh in on new labelling rules.
What changed
Comment period extended for the Central American Technical Regulation on nutrition labelling.
Nutritional information mandatory on the label of pre-packaged foods for consumers aged three and over.
Rules apply to milk, cereal, and juice products sold in the region.
Who it affects
Food producers and importers can submit feedback on the proposed labelling requirements until the new deadline.
Milk and butter manufacturers must meet specific composition, processing, and sanitary certification standards under RTCA 67.04.77:20.
Key dates
Compliance Answer: Extension of Comment Period for Nutrition Labelling of Pre-Packaged Foods in Honduras
The Government of Honduras has extended the comment period for the Central American Technical Regulation on Nutrition Labelling of Pre-Packaged Foods for Consumers Aged Three and Over until 17 June 2024. This extension allows stakeholders to submit feedback on the proposed regulation, which aims to establish standardized nutrition labelling requirements for pre-packaged foods in Honduras and the broader Central American region1.
Regulation Analysis
1. Key Regulation and Scope
The primary regulation under review is the Central American Technical Regulation (RTCA) on Nutrition Labelling of Pre-Packaged Foods for Human Consumption for the Population Aged Three and Over (referred to in the sources as RTCA Etiquetado Nutricional de Productos Alimenticios Preenvasados para Consumo Humano para la Población a partir de 3 Años de Edad)1. This regulation applies to:
- Pre-packaged foods intended for human consumption.
- Consumers aged three years and older1.
- Products marketed in Honduras and other Central American countries adopting the RTCA framework.
The regulation is part of a broader effort to align with CODEX STAN 234-1999 (Recommended Methods of Analysis and Sampling) and other regional standards, such as:
- RTCA on General Labelling of Pre-Packaged Foods (RTCA Etiquetado General de los Alimentos Previamente Envasados)1.
- RTCA on Good Manufacturing Practices for Processed Foods and Beverages (RTCA Industria de Alimentos y Bebidas Procesados. Buenas Prácticas de Manufactura. Principios Generales)1.
2. Stakeholder Feedback Process
Authority and Submission Details
- Responsible Agency: Secretaría de Desarrollo Económico (SDE) (Secretariat for Economic Development), specifically the Dirección General de Integración Económica y Política Comercial (Directorate-General of Economic Integration and Trade Policy)1.
- Contact Information:
Deadline and Process
- Extended Comment Period: Stakeholders may submit feedback until 17 June 20241.
- Original Deadline: The initial comment period was set for 60 days from the date of notification (20 July 2020), but this has been extended to accommodate additional input1.
- Submission Method: Comments must be sent to the designated authority via email or fax1.
3. Related Regulations and Context
While the primary focus is on nutrition labelling, the proposed regulation interacts with other Central American Technical Regulations (RTCAs), including:
| Regulation | Key Requirement | Applicability | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTCA 67.04.77:20 (Milk Products. Butter. Specifications) | Establishes specifications for butter, including labelling and composition for human consumption or further processing. | Butter products in Honduras and Central America. | 1 |
| RTCA on Use of Dairy Terms (RTCA Uso de Términos Lecheros) | Defines permissible terminology for dairy products to prevent misleading labelling. | All dairy products. | 1 |
| RTCA on Microbiological Criteria for Food Safety (RTCA Alimentos. Criterios Microbiológicos para la inocuidad de Alimentos) | Sets microbiological limits to ensure food safety. | Pre-packaged foods. | 1 |
| RTCA on Food Additives (RTCA Alimentos y Bebidas Procesadas. Aditivos Alimentarios) | Regulates the use of additives in processed foods and beverages. | Processed foods and beverages. | 1 |
4. Objective and Rationale
The regulation aims to:
- Protect human health by providing clear, standardized nutrition information to consumers1.
- Harmonize labelling requirements across Central America to facilitate trade and reduce technical barriers1.
- Align with international standards, such as CODEX STAN 234-1999, to ensure consistency with global best practices1.
Summary Answer
Honduras has extended the comment period for the Central American Technical Regulation on Nutrition Labelling of Pre-Packaged Foods for Consumers Aged Three and Over until 17 June 2024, allowing stakeholders to provide feedback on the proposed requirements1. The regulation, overseen by the Secretaría de Desarrollo Económico (SDE), applies to pre-packaged foods and aligns with broader regional standards, including RTCA 67.04.77:20 (butter specifications) and CODEX STAN 234-19991. Stakeholders must submit comments to the Dirección General de Integración Económica y Política Comercial via email or fax1. The regulation’s primary objective is to protect public health through standardized nutrition labelling1. All cited sources (1) have been addressed in this response.
Sources
- ↩ Reglamento Técnico Centroamericano 67.04.77:20 Productos Lácteos. Mantequilla. Especificaciones (Central American Technical Regulation No. 67.04.77:20: Milk products. Butter. Specifications) (5 pages, in Spanish) https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=q:/G/TBTN20/HND96.pdf&Open=True