The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply published an ordinance releasing the indication of the expiration date on packaged fresh vegetables.
The measure has been in effect since July 22, when the text was published in the Official Gazette of the Union. The standard amends a 2018 normative instruction that sets minimum identity and quality requirements for vegetables.
“It is considered unenforceable the indication of the expiry date of vegetables, taking into account the particular characteristics of conservation and consumption of these products”, says the ordinance.
​According to the ministry, the measure complies with a resolution by Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency), which already provided for the waiver of this information.
According to the text, published in 2002, the expiration date is not required for: fresh fruits and vegetables, wines, alcoholic beverages containing 10% or more alcohol, in addition to bakery and confectionery products that are consumed within 24 hours, vinegar, candies, caramels and chewing gum.
In the view of the Secretary of Agricultural Defense at Mapa, José Guilherme Leal, the measure is important in the fight against food waste. According to him, annually tons of fruit are lost in Brazil due to the expiration date, even if they are not unfit for consumption.
In addition, the consumer would be able to identify whether the products are not good for consumption, either by appearance (rotten and withered) or by odor.
“The validity affixed to the packages was not related to the quality of the product, since the consumer himself is able to observe whether or not a vegetable product is fit for consumption only by the visual aspect”, said Leal, in a note published on the website of the Ministry.
What changes?
According to the ministry, until the publication of the ordinance, products with an expired expiration date had to be discarded. The law also did not allow them to be used for other purposes, such as donation.
In addition, consumer protection agencies inspected items with an expired expiration date. Therefore, says the ministry, many fruits had to be destroyed, even though they were in adequate conditions for consumption.
By the current rule, fruit producers will no longer need to inform the expiration date on the packaging.
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