Colombia Proposes Technical Regulation for Food Contact Glass and Ceramics

In July 2020, Colombia’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection (Ministerio de Salud y de Protección Social) published Resolution 1163/2020 (Resolución Número 1163 de 2020 (15 JUL 2020)) to extend the validity of the emergency technical regulation on food contact glass and ceramics under Resolution 1893/2019 until January 16, 2021 (SafeGuardS 115/20).

On April 13, 2021, the World Trade Organization (WTO) announced a draft resolution from the Colombian Ministry of Health and Social Protection on its intention to ‘establish the technical regulation on tableware, kitchenware and articles of glass, ceramic or glass-ceramic in contact with foodstuffs, and ceramic ware used for cooking food, which are manufactured, imported and marketed in the national territory’ (‘Draft Resolution’). This ‘Draft Resolution’, attached to WTO document number 21-3056 and notified under G/TBT/N/COL/249, contains several important provisions. It:

• Provides the list of HS codes for products that are considered to fall under the scope:
  • 6911.10.00.00, 6911.90.00.00
  • 6912.00.00.00
  • 7013.10.00.00, 7013.22.00.00, 7013.28.00.00, 7013.33.00.00, 7013.37.00.00, 7013.41.00.00, 7013.42.00.00, 7013.49.00.00, 7013.91.00.00 and 7013.99.00.00 
• Indicates that the characteristics of a product will also be considered for determining whether it falls into the scope
• Indicates certain exemptions, including articles for decorative purposes, but such articles are obliged to have a label, sticker, marking or permanent marking indicating ‘Producto decorativo, no apto para contacto con alimentos’ (‘Decorative products, not suitable for food contact’) 
• Defines the standards and migration requirements for lead and cadmium:
  • NTC ISO 6486 Parts 1 and 2 (see Table 1 below)
  • NTC ISO 7086 Parts 1 and 2 (see Table 2 below)
  • NTC ISO 8391 Parts 1 and 2 (see Table 3 below)
• Accepts ISO 6486 Parts 1 and 2, ISO 7086 Parts 1 and 2 as well as ISO 8391 Parts 1 and 2 as equivalent standards
• Details the labeling requirements (in Spanish), including year and month of manufacture
• Requires sampling to be carried out in accordance with ISO 2589-1 at the inspection level that is determined by the Certification Body (CB)
• Requires the product Certificate of Conformity (CoC) to be issued under Scheme 1b (batch), 4 or 5
• Requires testing to be carried out by laboratories that are accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 by the National Accreditation Body of Colombia (Organismo Nacional de Acreditación de Colombia, ONAC), or by an Accreditation Body (AB) belonging to the Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRA) of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC)
• Requires products to have a CoC that is issued by a CB accredited by ONAC, or by an AB belonging to the MRA of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) 
• Accepts a Declaration of Conformity (DoC) in accordance with ISO/IEC 17050 Parts 1 and 2 for domestic manufacturers and importers until there is at least one ONAC accredited CB
  • This DoC will only be valid for 30 days from the date of accreditation of the first CB  
• Allows a six-month transitional period for domestically manufactured products with inventory between January 17, 2021 and the date of entry into force of this resolution to sell their products to consumers, otherwise such products are obliged to conform to the new resolution
  • This six-month transitional period also applies to imported products with sales invoice between January 17, 2021 and the date of entry into force of this resolution

According to the Draft Resolution, the provisions will become effective six months after the date of publication in the Official Journal.

Highlights of the migration limits for lead and cadmium in NTC ISO 6486-2, NTC ISO 7086-2 and NTC ISO 8391-2 are summarized in Tables 1 to 3. 

SGS technical experts have extensive knowledge and testing experience in materials and articles in contact with food. They work to ensure that your products meet the appropriate regulations for food contact materials, paving the way for compliance. From overall migration tests to expert advice on emerging regulations, compliance issues and documentation review, SGS is the partner to trust. In the end, it’s only trusted because it’s tested. Discover more on our website and read our brochure. 

For enquiries, please contact:

Hingwo Tsang
Global Information and Innovation Manager
t: (+852) 2774 7420

Camilo E. Ramírez R
Certification Director - SGS COLOMBIA S.A.S
t: +57 1 606 92 92  

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