Authorities from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru met with scientific experts and experts in regulatory policies on September 4 and 5 in Bogota, Colombia, in order to address the regulatory changes and the scientific trends currently underway on food supplements and its impact on markets.
Dr. Diana Liévano opened the event and highlighted the opportunity of
sharing information on dietary supplements in the region.
Speakers presented and debated about the main regulatory developments on the different countries. Topics on the agenda covered from food supplements definition, safety on the use of ingredients in supplements and criteria to establish maximum levels of vitamins and minerals, to regulation and substantiation on the use of health and nutrition claims, adequate good manufacturing practices requirements for food supplements, and systems for market access and monitoring of supplements on the market.
The following regulators participated at the event: Dr. Diana Liévano, Coordinator of Sanitary Registrations of Phyto-therapeutic Products, Homeopathic Medicines and Dietary Supplements, INVIMA, Colombia; Ms. Gabriela Ferreira Silvero, Technical Assesor, Department of Evaluation and Registration, National Agency for Sanitary Surveillance, Paraguay; Eng. Katty Rojas, Head on Food Safety, National Service on Agricultural Health and Food Safety (SENASAG), Ministry of Agriculture, Bolivia; Noemí La Torre
Paredes, Specialist on Health Evaluation of Dietetic Products and Sweeteners, General Directorate of Drugs (DIGEMID), Peru; Dr. Veronia Flor Terán, Food Safety Analyst, National Directorate Health Surveillance and Control, Ministry of Public Health, Ecuador; and Jannet Arismendi from the Ministry of Health of Colombia.
"This event was a unique platform that brought together authorities, academics and representatives from the supplements sector and during which the basis to continue with the cooperation and organization of scientifictechnical events with the aim of continuing the work on key issues around food supplements regulations have been set, and where ALANUR and IADSA
are positioned as sources of information and guidance on the dietary supplements framework," said David Pineda Ereño, regulatory affairs Director of IADSA.
"We are delighted to offer this space for communication and exchange of information on regulatory and scientific issues around food supplements, which promotes the cooperation in the work in the region," said Dr. Tatiana Pires, chair of ALANUR. "ALANUR, with the support of IADSA, will continue working on the approximation of criteria to serve as a reference point for food supplement regulations across Latin America," she added.