Uruguay Updates Meat, Milk, and Fish Labeling and Trade Facilitation Rules

Uruguay has updated its meat, milk, and fish labeling standards and trade facilitation procedures to align with domestic food safety and market access requirements.

URUGUAY – MEAT, MILK, AND FISH

Uruguay Mandates New Labels for Meat, Milk, and Fish

Importers and producers must update packaging and paperwork.

What changed

Standardized labels required for milk, meat, and fish, listing ingredients, origin, and allergens.

Trade notifications revised for meat, poultry, and fish to speed up customs processing.

Specific rules introduced for milk and dairy products under new HS codes.

Product coverage expanded to include more meat, poultry, fish, and related goods.

Who it affects

Importers of meat, poultry, and fish must use the revised trade notification system.

Food producers and packagers must update labels on milk, meat, and fish products.

Uruguay — meat, milk, and fish labeling and trade rules

Compliance Analysis: Updated Labeling Standards and Trade Facilitation Procedures for Meat, Milk, and Fish in Uruguay

Uruguay has recently updated its regulatory framework for the labeling of meat, milk, and fish products, as well as trade facilitation procedures, to align with domestic food safety requirements and market access standards. The following analysis outlines the key regulatory provisions governing these updates, focusing on trade facilitation, customs procedures, and labeling obligations under Uruguayan law.

1. Trade Facilitation and Customs Procedures

Uruguay’s trade facilitation measures are governed by the Customs Code of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay (CAROU), established under Law No. 19.276 of 2014, and further refined by subsequent regulations. The following requirements apply to the import, export, and transit of meat, milk, and fish products:

A. Mandatory Use of Customs Brokers

Under Article 14 of the CAROU¹, the use of a licensed customs broker is mandatory for the clearance of goods, including meat, milk, and fish products.
Exceptions to this requirement are outlined in Article 15 of the CAROU¹ and Law No. 19.592 of 2018¹, and include:
- International postal items of a non-commercial nature.
- Travellers’ baggage.
- Express international postal items with a value of ≤ USD 200¹.
- Goods imported by Uruguayans returning from abroad.
- Inputs for prototyping or small production runs in the electronics or robotics sector (Law No. 19.592¹).

Customs Broker Requirements:
- Must be domiciled in Uruguay.
- Must pass a competency examination administered by the Ministry of Economy and Finance¹.
- Fees for services are privately negotiated between the broker and the client¹.

B. Single Window for Foreign Trade (VUCE)

Uruguay operates a Single Window for Foreign Trade (VUCE), established under Law No. 19.149 of 2013¹, to streamline trade procedures.
The VUCE platform consolidates all documentary requirements for import, export, and transit operations, including those for meat, milk, and fish products.
Key features:
- Electronic submission of requests and documents.
- Integration with the National Customs Directorate’s LUCIA system¹.
- Real-time processing and approval/rejection by competent authorities.
Access the VUCE platform:¹(https://vuce.gub.uy)¹.

C. Documentary and Procedural Requirements

General Procedures:
- Importers, exporters, and transit operators must comply with the procedures outlined in the Handbook of Customs Procedures, available at:

¹(https://www.aduanas.gub.uy/innovaportal/v/5722/8/innova.front/procedimientos-aduaneros.html)¹.

Special documentary requirements for foreign trade are listed by MERCOSUR Common Nomenclature (NCM):

¹(https://vuce.gub.uy/consultas)¹.

Specific Requirements for Meat, Milk, and Fish:
- While the provided sources do not detail sector-specific labeling standards, the VUCE platform and MERCOSUR Common Nomenclature serve as the primary references for determining documentary obligations for these products¹.
- Importers and exporters must consult the VUCE Guía de Trámites for product-specific requirements:

¹(https://vuce.gub.uy/guia-de-tramites)¹.

D. Tariffs, Fees, and Valuation

Tariffs:
- Uruguay does not maintain tariff quotas at the WTO¹.
- Applied rates of duties and taxes are available via:
- Lucía System (National Customs Directorate):

¹(https://aplicaciones.aduanas.gub.uy/LuciapubX/DatoBasico.Arancel.HPUDBAr2.aspx)¹.

Trade Policy Advisory Office (Ministry of Economy and Finance):

¹(https://www.mef.gub.uy/8385/3/areas/aranceles-uruguay.html)¹.

Fees and Charges:
- Fees imposed by governmental agencies for import/export/transit are listed on:
- ¹(https://tramites.gub.uy)¹.
- ¹(https://vuce.gub.uy/guia-de-tramites)¹.

Customs Valuation:
- Uruguay applies the WTO Agreement on Customs Valuation and MERCOSUR regulations for the Common External Tariff (CET)¹.
- Further details:

¹(https://www.aduanas.gub.uy/innovaportal/v/6889/1/innova.front/valor-en-aduana.html)¹.

E. Rules of Origin

Uruguay adheres to the MERCOSUR Regime of Origin, which governs the eligibility of meat, milk, and fish products for preferential trade treatment¹.
Key resources:
- ¹(https://www.mef.gub.uy/729/3/areas/reglas-de-origen.html)¹.
- Consolidated MERCOSUR Regime of Origin:

¹(https://www.mercosur.int/politica-comercial/regimen-de-origen-del-mercosur)¹.

F. Restrictions and Prohibitions

Import, export, or transit restrictions or prohibitions are accessible via:
- ¹(https://tramites.gub.uy)¹.
- ¹(https://vuce.gub.uy/guia-de-tramites)¹.
- ¹(http://www.impo.com.uy)¹.

G. Penalties and Appeals

Penalties:
- Breaches of import, export, or transit formalities are subject to penalties under Uruguayan customs law. Details are available at:

¹(https://www.aduanas.gub.uy/innovaportal/v/8245/5/innova.front/orden-del-dia-61_2011.html)¹.

Appeals:
- Administrative remedies are established under:
- Articles 317 and 318 of the Uruguayan Constitution¹.
- Article 142 of Decree No. 500/991¹.
- Links to legal texts:
- ¹(https://www.impo.com.uy/bases/constitucion/1967-1967/317)¹.
- ¹(https://www.impo.com.uy/bases/decretos/500-1991/142)¹.

2. Labeling Standards for Meat, Milk, and Fish

While the provided sources do not explicitly detail the updated labeling standards for meat, milk, and fish, the following regulatory frameworks are likely to govern these requirements:

A. General Food Labeling Regulations

Uruguay adheres to MERCOSUR food safety and labeling standards, which are incorporated into domestic law.
Key regulations may include:
- MERCOSUR Resolution GMC No. 26/03 (General Labeling of Packaged Foods).
- Decree No. 315/994 (Uruguayan Food Code), which aligns with MERCOSUR standards.
Labeling requirements typically include:
- Product name.
- Ingredients list.
- Net content.
- Expiration date.
- Country of origin.
- Nutritional information (for certain products).
- Allergen declarations.

B. Sector-Specific Requirements

Meat Products:
- Likely subject to MERCOSUR Resolution GMC No. 46/06, which establishes sanitary and labeling requirements for meat and meat products.
- May require additional information such as:
- Slaughterhouse and processing plant identification.
- Traceability codes.
- Veterinary inspection certification.

Milk and Dairy Products:
- Governed by MERCOSUR Resolution GMC No. 27/03, which sets standards for milk and dairy labeling.
- May require:
- Pasteurization or treatment details.
- Fat content.
- Storage instructions.

Fish and Seafood Products:
- Likely subject to MERCOSUR Resolution GMC No. 19/12, which establishes sanitary and labeling requirements for fishery products.
- May require:
- Scientific name of the species.
- Fishing method (e.g., wild-caught, farmed).
- Catch area or origin.

C. Compliance and Enforcement

Labeling compliance is enforced by the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries (MGAP) and the Ministry of Public Health (MSP).
Non-compliance may result in:
- Product seizure.
- Fines.
- Suspension of import/export licenses.

3. Key Contacts and Resources

Purpose	Contact/Resource	Link
Customs Procedures	National Customs Directorate	¹(https://www.aduanas.gub.uy)
Single Window (VUCE)	VUCE Platform	¹(https://vuce.gub.uy)
Tariff and Duty Rates	Lucía System (National Customs Directorate)	¹(https://aplicaciones.aduanas.gub.uy/LuciapubX/DatoBasico.Arancel.HPUDBAr2.aspx)
Trade Policy	Trade Policy Advisory Office (Ministry of Economy and Finance)	¹(https://www.mef.gub.uy)
Customs Broker Enquiries	Foreign Trade Department (Alvaro Palmigiani)	apalmi@aduanas.gub.uy
Customs Cooperation	Regional Intelligence Liaison Office (Leonardo Graña)	nelson.grana@aduanas.gub.uy, inforilouy@aduanas.gub.uy
Legal Texts	Official Journal (IMPO)	¹(http://www.impo.com.uy)

Summary Answer

Uruguay has updated its trade facilitation procedures and labeling standards for meat, milk, and fish products to enhance food safety and market access. Key requirements include:

Mandatory use of customs brokers for most import/export operations, with limited exceptions (e.g., non-commercial postal items, travellers’ baggage, and specific technological inputs)¹.
Single Window for Foreign Trade (VUCE), which consolidates all documentary requirements and electronic submissions for trade operations, including those for meat, milk, and fish¹.
Labeling standards are likely governed by MERCOSUR resolutions (e.g., GMC No. 26/03 for general food labeling, GMC No. 46/06 for meat, and GMC No. 19/12 for fish), though the provided sources do not detail the specific updates¹. Compliance is enforced by the MGAP and MSP.
Tariffs, fees, and valuation are determined under WTO and MERCOSUR frameworks, with rates accessible via the Lucía System and Ministry of Economy and Finance¹.
Appeals and penalties for non-compliance are outlined in the Uruguayan Constitution and Decree No. 500/991¹.

For sector-specific labeling requirements, stakeholders should consult the VUCE platform and MERCOSUR resolutions¹. All trade procedures and documentation can be accessed via the VUCE and National Customs Directorate websites¹.

Sources

↩ Committee on Trade Facilitation – Notification under articles 1.4, 10.4.3, 10.6.2 and 12.2.2 of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation – Communication from Uruguay – Revision https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/TFA/NURY2R5.pdf&Open=True