MERCOSUR food labelling requirements

MERCOSUR (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay) shares a bloc nutrition standard, but each member internalises it nationally — so the panel and the front-of-pack warning differ by country.

The bloc rules

The MERCOSUR resolutions GMC 26/03 (general labelling) and GMC 46/03 (nutrition) set the common baseline; each member state gives them force through its own national law, so a MERCOSUR label is built per destination country.

Brazil (ANVISA)

Brazil follows ANVISA's in-force rules (RDC 727/2022; RDC 429/2020 with IN 75/2020). The nutrition table is per 100 g and per portion with %VD, energy in kcal, and added-sugars and trans-fat rows. High added sugar, saturated fat or sodium triggers the front-of-pack 'lupa' (magnifying-glass) warning — ALTO EM. The label is in Portuguese.

Argentina and Uruguay

Argentina and Uruguay use the bloc Spanish nutrition panel plus the black octagon front-of-pack warnings: Argentina 'EXCESO EN…' (Ley 27.642 with Decreto 151/2022) and Uruguay 'EXCESO DE…' (Decreto 272/018 with 34/021). The label is in Spanish.

Paraguay

Paraguay rides the bloc 46/03 Spanish nutrition panel; its own front-of-pack law (Ley 7092/2023) is enacted but not yet operative, so no octagons are required today.

At a glance

• Nutrition panel to the destination member's model (ANVISA table or the 46/03 panel)
• Brazil: the 'lupa' ALTO EM front-of-pack warning where thresholds are crossed
• Argentina / Uruguay: the black EXCESO octagons where thresholds are crossed
• Language: Portuguese (Brazil) or Spanish (Argentina / Uruguay / Paraguay)
• Ingredient, allergen and additive declarations; net quantity; date marking

Questions