The Ministry of Health and Social Protection issued Resolution 2066 of 2024. This regulation changes the rules for any company manufacturing, importing, or selling packaged food in the national territory. The goal of this technical regulation is to protect public health by contributing to the reduction of cardiovascular diseases.

If your company operates in the food sector or you are evaluating bringing goods into Colombia, ignoring this rule can lead to customs delays, sanctions by Invima, and retained merchandise. In this article, we will break down exactly what the new regulation demands, the allowed technical limits, and how to prepare your international supply chain to comply with the law without halting your logistics operations.

What is Resolution 2066 of 2024 and who does it apply to?

This regulation establishes a technical rule defining the uses and maximum contents of industrial trans fats and partially hydrogenated oils. The provisions are mandatory for:

• Packaged foods intended for human consumption that are manufactured, processed, distributed, transported, stored, packaged, imported, and/or marketed in the national territory.
• Ingredients used as raw materials for the food industry.
• All holders of sanitary registries, permits, or notifications for packaged foods destined for human consumption in Colombia.

It is essential to clarify that this technical regulation expressly exempts natural trans fats.

How much trans fat does the rule allow?

For international purchasing teams and logistics coordinators, knowing the exact formulation of products at origin is now a critical requirement. The rule establishes the following parameters for industrial trans fat contents:

• Maximum allowed limit: The amount of industrial trans fats in food for human consumption cannot exceed 2 grams per 100 grams or 100 milliliters of total fat.
• Absolute prohibition: The use of partially hydrogenated oils in the processing of packaged foods for human consumption is prohibited.

Impact on nutritional labeling and Invima controls

From a customs agency perspective, labels are the first nationalization filter. Invima and competent territorial entities will conduct rigorous verifications.

• Fat declaration: Packaged foods must express their trans fat content in milligrams (mg) per 100 g or mL of food and per serving on their labels.
• Ingredient inspection: The competent authority will visually verify that the ingredient list contains no mention of the use of partially hydrogenated oils.

When does it go into effect?

Importing companies have a reasonable period to adapt their supply chains and deplete inventories:

• The general provisions of the resolution will take effect eighteen (18) months after its publication in the Official Gazette.
• The specific prohibition on the use of partially hydrogenated oils (established in numeral 4.2 of article 4) will take effect thirty-six (36) months after publication.

Common mistakes when importing food under this regulation

• Assuming a global product complies in Colombia: A packaged food imported from Asia or North America might have a valid formulation in its home country, but if it exceeds 2 grams of industrial trans fats per 100 grams of total fat, it cannot be marketed here.
• Neglecting label translation: If the original label or its translation includes terms referring to partially hydrogenated oils, the merchandise will face insurmountable barriers during inspection.

Resolution 2066 of 2024 represents a regulatory challenge that directly impacts foreign trade operations in Colombia. Auditing formulations at origin, adjusting labeling declarations to reflect milligrams , and eradicating partially hydrogenated oils from ingredients are non-negotiable steps. Anticipating these changes will ensure that your company’s logistics flows do not stall at customs.

At Siacomex, as experts in customs agency and integral logistics, we preventively evaluate the technical requirements of your merchandise so it crosses borders smoothly. Let’s analyze your next import together to mitigate risks and ensure regulatory compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who monitors compliance with Resolution 2066 of 2024 in Colombia? The National Institute for Food and Drug Surveillance (Invima) is the authority responsible for exercising inspection, surveillance, and control functions, in coordination with territorial entities.

Does the Invima restriction apply to naturally occurring trans fats? No, the provisions contained in this technical regulation except natural trans fats.

What happens if my imported product declares partially hydrogenated oils in its ingredients? The rule dictates that it will be verified that there is no mention of the use of partially hydrogenated oils in the ingredient list. Their use is strictly prohibited in the processing of packaged foods.