Brazil
Law · Legislation

Basic Food Standards Decree-Law (No. 986 of 1969)

Summary:

This decree-law establishes different provisions on food standards, including for labeling.

Description:

Context

This decree-law is a legal milestone in Brazil, because is the first to establish basic regulations on food. In this sense, it was created to ensure the quality and safety of food products, focusing on public health and sanitary control. Its main objective is the defense and protection of individual or collective health regarding food products (article 1). This decree-law served as the foundation for regulating the production, commercialization, and distribution of food. It states standards for hygiene, labeling, and sanitary inspection. Even though its importance when created, nowadays it is complemented by other important regulations, mainly on labeling.

Concepts related to food standards

For the purposes of FULL, this document conceptualizes:

  • Fresh food: any food of plant or animal origin, which requires only the removal of the inedible part and treatments necessary for its proper hygiene and preservation for immediate consumption. However, nowadays, the most updated definition of fresh foods (in Portuguese, “alimento in natura”) is in the Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian population [Guia Alimentar para a População Brasileira].
  • Advertising: the dissemination of information and distribution of food related to sales, and the use of raw materials or production materials to promote consumption.

The document also conceptualizes additives, separating them into two categories: intencional and incidental additive. These concepts are important when it comes to the discussion of products harmful to health, also known as ultraprocessed products.

Labeling

According to this decree-law, labels must inform, in perfectly legible characters, the quality, nature and type of food, subject to the definition, description and classification established in the respective Ministry of Health’s regulation (article 11). In addition, it includes some claims that must appear in food labels, such as those related to the presence of flavorings and colorings (articles 12-16). Lastly, there is a small provision on marketing. The articles on food labeling also apply to the texts and content of food advertising, regardless of the means used for its dissemination (article 23).