The National Institute for the Protection of Consumer Rights (Pro Consumer) issued a resolution this Thursday in which it sets a period of 120 calendar days for industrialists, merchants and importers, for mandatory compliance with the labeling standard in the Dominican Republic.
This was reported by the executive director of Pro Consumidor, Dr. Eddy Alcantaraas a result of the issuance of resolution 1579-2022 dated September 1 of this year, on which he explained that it establishes that “any natural or legal person who markets, imports, produces or has ordered the partial or total production to a third party of a previously packaged food must comply with the requirements of the product labels as established by NORDOM 53”.
Alcántara pointed out that once the term granted by that entity that defends consumer rights has expired, they will initiate a series of operations throughout the national territory “to ensure mandatory compliance with the resolution.”
In this sense, he stressed that if products not in accordance with the regulations corresponding to labeling are found in commercial establishments after the expiration of the term, the Executive Directorate of Pro-Consumer, in accordance with the provisions of article 111, literal b, of the Law 358-05 “will proceed to its confiscation and punish those who have violated the norm.”
The official said that this entity will be competent to monitor compliance with the provisions of the aforementioned resolution on the content of the label, which provides to ensure the veracity of the information declared on prepackaged foods, “verifying that it is not altered, misleading or not corresponding to the product being marketed”.
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In this regard, he indicated that the resolution provides that the labeling must contain at least the name of the food, specific and not generic, list of ingredients, net content and drained weight, name and address of the manufacturer, packer, distributor, importer or seller of the product. food.
Also the numbers of industrial and sanitary registration, country of origin, identification of the batch and expiration date, date and instructions for conservation, ingredients or additives that cause hypersensitivity, declaration of irradiated food, additional mandatory requirements according to types of products, Spanish language or complementary label in the same language.
He also stressed that article 84 of the aforementioned law establishes that “every supplier of goods and/or services is obliged to provide the consumer or user on the label or similar support, information, at least, in Spanish, clear, truthful, timely and sufficient about the goods and services that it offers and markets, in order to protect the health and safety of the latter, as well as its economic interests, so that it can make an adequate and reasoned choice.
the owner of Pro Consumer held in that order, that Law 358-05 in its article 85 in its literals a), b), c), d), f) and g) indicates that “in the label, labeling or analogous support, the information that is provided to the consumer must be indicated with clear characters, clearly visible and easy to read by the consumer, the information in Spanish regarding the characteristics of the goods and services.
Said information -he went on to say- must summarize, as a minimum, the following aspects: a) Origin, geographical or commercial origin, nature, nutritional content, ingredients and components used in the composition in order of highest net content, purpose or utility; b) Quality, quantity, category, specifications, weight or measure.
Likewise, it indicated that article 85 in its literal c) establishes the usual or commercial denomination, if it had one; in d) Instructions or indications at least, in Spanish, for the correct use, consumption or utilization; in e) Date of production, useful life, expiration, expiry or recommended term for use or consumption, in the case of perishable products or those susceptible to alteration over time, mainly; f) Expected results of its use or consumption and known adverse effects, especially its harmfulness or danger and g) Environmental, sanitary or health warnings.”
In addition, he warned that non-compliance with the provisions of said provision “will lead to the imputation of infractions in accordance with the provisions of article 105, literals c (2), c (3), c (6) and e (3) of the regulation that creates Pro Consumer.
