PHL exporters told: Comply with Mexico’s food label rules

THEDepartment of Trade and Industry-export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB) advises Philippine exporters and would-be exporters to Mexico to follow the new guidelines in product labeling on food products high in sugar, fat, salt, or calories, which took effect on April 1, 2021.

Under the new rules, manufacturers are prohibited to use children’s characters, animations, cartoons, celebrities, athletes, pets, and interactive elements, such as visual games or digital downloads in the packaging of said food products.

The move aims to discourage children from consuming unhealthy food choices, as Mexico, that declared diabetes as an epidemic, has one of the highest rates of childhood obesity in the world.

“Apart from following the new guidelines, we advise exporters to offer tasty yet healthy breakfast and snack alternatives to the Mexican market,” said DTI Undersecretary for Trade Promotions Abdulgani Macatoman.

Mexico’s General Health Law on food labeling entered into force in

January 2020. Under the law, food and beverages should have labels if they exceed the following limits established by the Mexican Ministry of Health:

• Added sugar: Less than 10 percent of the calories of the product

• Saturated fat: Less than 10 percent of the calories of the product

• Transfat: less than 1 percent of the calories of the product

• Sodium: 1 mg per calorie Sugary drinks labels should also state that “Excessive consumption of sweetened or sweetened foods or drinks increases the risk of serious diseases such as diabetes, obesity, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, among others, severely affecting the health or causing the death of people regardless of age or gender.”

Mexico is the Philippines’s 24th trading partner in 2020, with total trade between the two countries at $646 million. The country is also the 14th export market of the Philippines

in 2020, with exports amounting to $545.6 million. Pineapples, fruit juices, and desiccated coconuts are the top Philippine food exports to Mexico.

DTI-EMB recommends that Philippine exporters to coordinate with their buyers on the new guidelines. For additional assistance, exporters can e-mail DTI-EMB at exports@dti.gov.ph.