Specific marks or labels are not required, except for food, pharmaceutical products, textiles and cosmetics. Labels on processed food products must indicate: the specific name of the product, ingredients in order of predominance, name and address of manufacturer and importer, country-of-origin, number of units, instructions for storage and usage (when required), expiration date, and other instructions as required by the Ministry of Health or the Industry and Commerce Superintendent. Labels and illustrations cannot be inaccurate or misleading.
As of December 15, 2023, all packaged foods (domestic and imported) must comply with new front-of-pack (FOP) warning labeling requirements, in accordance with Resolution 810 of 2021 and Resolution 2492 of 2022. Products high in sugar, sodium, saturated fats, or containing sweeteners or trans fats must display standardized warning seals. Products bearing these seals are also prohibited from displaying nutritional claims. These regulations are strictly enforced, and non-compliant products must be withdrawn from the market. The ingredient origin is still not required; only the country where the product was processed must be labeled.
Labels on pharmaceutical products must indicate in Spanish: “for sale under medical, dental or veterinary prescription,” with the generic name, commercial name, net weight or volume, weight or quantity of active ingredients, license number and the lot control number. Products having limited shelf life should include the date of expiration.
Insecticides and other toxic products should display the skull and crossbones, the word “poison” in Spanish, and information regarding usage and antidotes. Products for which there are no antidotes cannot be licensed and can only be used in programs under the direct control of public health authorities.
Food Labeling Requirements
The Government of Colombia requires country-of-origin labeling for processed food products. However, it does not classify frozen vegetables as a processed food and, therefore, no country-of-origin labeling is required. Fresh fruit and vegetables do not require country of origin labeling.
Resolution 5109 of December 29, 2005, issued by the Ministry of Health, established labeling requirements for canned and raw food products. In addition, new regulations for nutrition labeling and warning seals have been implemented through Resolutions 810/2021 and 2492/2022. The government has also advised the WTO of upcoming regulations on packages and containers used in direct contact with food products. Colombian labeling requirements for processed foods do not address the question of ingredient origin. Therefore, if an imported food item contains ingredients from more than one country, for example, U.S. and Canadian peas in the same frozen package, the label must only identify the processor’s name and address and the country where the product was produced.
Product labeling information on imported processed products must be present at the point of sale. The responsibility for placing labelling information rests with the importer, not the retailer. Many Colombian importers arrange for this information to be placed on the product by the exporting firm before entering Colombia.
Cosmetics Labeling Requirements
Resolution 2310 mandated that all cosmetics sold in Colombia must have packaging labeled in Spanish from origin, originally starting in December 2024. Complementary stickers in Spanish are allowed only if placed in a free space on the packaging that does not cover any existing information. U.S. exporters must ensure packaging or sticker placement complies with this requirement to avoid regulatory issues. In February 2025, the Andean Community extended the enforcement deadline for Resolution 2310 to December 17, 2025. This extension gives companies additional time to adapt their packaging and processes to the new requirements.
Additional information on labeling can be found at https://www.trade.gov/knowledge-product/colombia-standards-trade.