Latin American Officials Discuss Supplement Regulation

BRUSSELSRegulators from across Latin America discussed the challenges and opportunities in regulating food supplements including food supplement definitions, categorization and safety, and developing effective systems for quality, market access and control of these products at a meeting in Argentina.

Coinciding with the 4th International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplement Associations (IADSA) Scientific Forum, the meeting was an exclusive workshop coordinated by the IADSA, for officials from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela.

There is a great focus from regulators across the world, and particularly across Latin America, on developing adequate regulation for the food supplements category," said IADSA director of regulatory affairs David Pineda Ereño. This event is designed to address the key issues affecting such regulation. We hope that the discussions at the event will be valuable for regulators and help further advance their discussions at national level."

Speakers at the workshop included Matías de Nicola from the National Administration of Medicines, Food and Medical Technology (ANMAT), Argentina; Tatiana Pires from the Brazilian Association of the Foods for Special Uses Industry (ABIAD); Sam Jennings, coordinator of IADSA Working Group on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), who discussed ensuring the quality of food supplements; Andrew Shao, member of IADSA Scientific Group, who discussed market access and control of food supplements, and IADSA board member Ric Hobby.

Panel discussions involved Alejandra Chaverri Esquivel from Costa Ricas Ministry of Health; professor Helio Vannucchi from the University of Sao Paulo and member of the Committee for Scientific and Technical Assessment of Functional and New Foods advising the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) in Brazil; Liliana Peñaloza from Colombias Ministry of Health; María Luz Martínez from the National Administration of Medicines, Food and Medical Technology (ANMAT) in Argentina; Dr Rocío Alatorre from Mexicos Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risk (COFEPRIS); Luis Millán from Venezuelas Ministry of Health; Luisa Kipreos from the Ministry of Health in Chile; Jose Luis Reyes from El Salvadors Public Health Superior Council; Viviana Schreiber from the National Institute on Food and Nutrition (INAN) in Paraguay; Nora Villalba from the Ministry of Public Health in Uruguay, and John Hathcock from the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN).