Jamaica Opens Public Consultation on Draft Technical Regulation for Pre-Packaged Food Labelling, Mandatory Allergen, Alcohol Warning, QUID and English-Language Requirements

The Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce (MIIC) of Jamaica has opened public consultation on a Draft Technical Regulation for the Labelling of Pre-Packaged Foods, with comments accepted from 12 May 2026 to 11 July 2026. The regulation will replace existing Jamaican standards for pre-packaged foods, fruit juices and brewery products.

The draft introduces mandatory requirements for:
1.product name and identity;
2.ingredient and allergen declarations;
3.Quantitative Ingredient Declaration (QUID);
4.net quantity;
5.date marking;
6.nutrition facts;
7.country of origin; and
8.storage instructions.

Mandatory allergen disclosure would apply to cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, peanuts, soy, milk, tree nuts, sesame, mustard, celery, lupin and sulfites above 10 mg/kg.
The proposal also requires mandatory declaration of additives such as Aspartame, monosodium glutamate (MSG), sodium benzoate, sodium nitrite, potassium bromate and phosphates.
Under the QUID provisions, manufacturers must declare ingredient percentages when ingredients are emphasized through words, graphics or images on labels.
All mandatory labelling information for foods sold in Jamaica must appear in English.

For alcoholic beverages containing 0.5% ABV or more, labels would require pregnancy, underage drinking, health and drink-driving warnings along with graphic warning symbols. Minimum warning logo sizes would range from 5 mm to 10 mm depending on pack size.Fruit juices and nectars made from concentrate would need declarations such as “from concentrate” or “reconstituted,” while fruit nectars must display “juice content __%” statements near the product name.

The draft also mandates label approval by the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) before market placement and introduces enforcement measures including recalls, relabelling, penalties and market restrictions for non-compliant products.

Document: https://www.miic.gov.jm/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Draft-Technical-Regulation-for-Labelling-of-Pre-Packaged-Foods-Public-Comments-1-1.pdfhttps://www.miic.gov.jm/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Draft-Technical-Regulation-for-Labelling-of-Pre-Packaged-Foods-Public-Comments-1-1.pdf

News Source: freyrsolutions