On April 6, 2026, the Ministry of Health of Chile issued Decree No. 45, introducing updated definitions and labelling requirements for dairy products. The decree will enter into force on November 6, 2027.
The regulation strengthens transparency requirements by mandating clearer identification of milk origin and processing information on product labels. It applies to both domestic and imported dairy products.
Key Provisions
1. Product identification and origin labelling
The product name must appear on the principal display panel and accurately describe the nature of the food, alongside the trademark or brand.
Both domestic and imported products must indicate the country of origin.
Where milk is sourced from multiple countries, the label must list:
The name of each country, and
The corresponding national flag
For imported products, importers are required to obtain origin information from:
a)Manufacturers
b)Certification bodies
c)Competent authorities
2. Mandatory flag and processing information
The national flag of the milk collection country must:
Be displayed in colour
Not exceed 1.5 cm 1.0 cm
Be accompanied by the country name below the flag
For liquid milk and milk powder, labels must also specify the processing or heat treatment method, such as:
Pasteurization
Ultra-high temperature (UHT) processing
Other sterilization techniques
3. Specific requirements for cheese products
If cheese is produced using:
Milk powder, or
Recombined/reconstituted milk,
the label must clearly state:Produced using reconstituted milk or Produced using recombined milk
4. Updated definitions
The decree introduces or clarifies definitions for:
Milk
Raw milk
Natural milk
Reconstituted milk
Recombined milk
Related dairy product categories
Consult
