Mexican food supplement rules up for discussion

Anipron, the Mexican dietary supplements trade group will host European Union regulators, Mexican government decision makers and key industry figures to discuss supplements regulations and their impact on consumers in the central American republic.

The event, co-hosted by the International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplement Associations (IADSA), of which Anipron is a member, will be held on May 6 and 7 in Mexico City. The Mexican government agency Cofepris is also involved. "We are delighted to be working with Anipron and Cofepris for this event," said David Pineda, IADSA's director of regulatory affairs. "Mexico is one of the biggest and growing food supplement markets in Latin America, and in many ways developments here could well become a model for other countries in the region." The two-day event will provide a platform for "regulators, policy and scientific experts to share ideas and identify new avenues in areas where legislation is not yet complete," IADSA said. Topics to be discussed include Mexico's existing food supplements policy and regulations, global regulatory trends, as well as key issues such as the use of vitamins, minerals and botanical substances in food supplements and the use of health claims in food supplements. Attendees will also be given an overview of the key regulatory developments and current industry requirements in Mexico, intermingled with regular interactive 'question and answer' sessions. Euromonitor valued the Mexican dietary supplements market at $545m in 2006, up 11 per cent on 2005. IADSA has more than doubled in size since its creation in 1998 and represents 58 national trade associations and more than 20,000 companies. The Belgian-based group is an accredited international non-governmental organization (INGO) and sits at the table of the main international regulatory bodies.