Despite significant progress in recent years, labelling alcoholic beverages in Portuguese continues to be a challenge for many suppliers and importers. The National Institute for Standardisation and Quality (INNOQ) has stepped up inspections to ensure that products sold on the national market comply with labelling standards, which are essential for protecting the rights and safety of consumers, as reported by the newspaper Notícias.
According to David Magaia, director of INNOQ’s Metrology Division, suppliers often justify non-compliance with labelling requirements with arguments such as additional costs and the limited size of the Mozambican market. However, Magaia emphasises that these reasons are not enough to exempt them from complying with the regulation that has been in force since 2014.
‘The regulation doesn’t require replacing the original labels in English, but it does require adding content in Portuguese. This is crucial so that consumers have access to basic information, such as the product’s identification, the quantity, the name and address of the manufacturer,’ Magaia explained.
The lack of clear and accessible information has led to worrying situations, such as the consumption of drinks that are the result of mixtures of others, without consumers being aware of their potential effects. According to INNOQ, inadequate labelling compromises food safety and increases the risk of harm to public health.
To combat this problem, INNOQ has been working closely with the National Inspectorate of Economic Activities (INAE). During inspections, products that don’t fulfil the requirements are withdrawn from the market and cases are referred to the legal offices of the competent authorities, which can result in fines being imposed on offenders.
Magaia clarified that there are exceptions for new products on the market, which can be sold without proper labelling for a period of two to three months, during the evaluation phase of their acceptance by the consumer. However, after this period, labelling in Portuguese becomes compulsory in order to continue to be allowed on the market.
Despite these efforts, some suppliers and importers still face difficulties in adapting to the requirements, which motivates INNOQ to continue its awareness-raising and inspection activities. ‘We are working with these operators to correct the flaws in the labelling requirements and ensure that consumers are properly informed about the products they are consuming,’ concluded Magaia.
The regularisation of labelling in Portuguese is seen as an essential measure to guarantee transparency in the market and strengthen consumer protection, especially in a context where food safety is a growing concern, the source said.
