Chilean Gluten-Free Food Law Faces Implementation Challenges

Chile's Law 21.362, intended to clearly identify gluten-free foods and empower celiac families, is encountering unintended consequences due to Article 9 bis. This article mandates that gluten-free products be sold in exclusive gondolas to enhance consumer safety. While the intention is sound, the current Chilean market structure struggles to accommodate this requirement. Companies have invested significantly in rigorous processes to prevent cross-contamination, from raw materials to transport and personnel. However, concentrating a limited supply of these specialized products in areas with lower foot traffic is predicted to reduce sales. This, in turn, diminishes corporate interest in maintaining certifications and pursuing innovation, potentially leading to fewer available products and treatment options for celiacs. The issue thus transcends commerce, becoming a matter of food security, as for individuals with celiac disease, food serves as their medicine. The focus should shift from product placement to ensuring availability across all regions, maintaining variety, controlling price increases, and enforcing existing food safety regulations. The priority is to create a framework that supports the sustainability of certified businesses while guaranteeing patient access to their necessary treatments. Recently, industry representatives, celiac patients, and Ministry of Health authorities, including the minister, met to discuss solutions that uphold regulations and standards. Coacel hopes Law 21.362 will be strengthened through evidence-based dialogue and respect for the production chain, rather than being undermined by its own implementing regulations.