Beveridge & Diamond PC
  • People
  • Services
  • Publications & Resources
  • Firm
  • People
  • Services
  • Publications & Resources
    • Resource Centers
    • Publications
    • Events & Webinars
  • Firm
    • About Us
      • Overview
      • Accolades
    • Community & Social Responsibility
      • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
      • Pro Bono
      • Sustainability
      • Environmental Education Materials
    • Careers
      • Overview
      • Associate Life
      • Summer Associates
      • B&D University
      • Current Openings
    • Firm News
    • Contact Us
Marquee Image
Publications
March 2016Newsletter

Latin American Environmental Regulatory Tracker

Beveridge & DiamondMaddie Boyer, Paul Hagen, Russell Fraker
Email Share This Page

Our monthly Latin American Environmental Regulatory Tracker lists pending and recently enacted environmental laws and regulations in several Latin American countries. The March 2016 issue covers developments from January 16 to February 15.

Brazil

GHG Carbon Market Bill Proposed

Bill No. 225/15 has been proposed in the Chamber of Deputies to establish the National System for the Reduction of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (RED+). The system would facilitate the development of Brazil’s internal carbon market, in which credits could be generated to obtain financing or certificates could be used to offset GHG emissions within Brazil or in other countries.

New Compliance Deadline for Water Conservation Labels on Cleaning Products Proposed

Bill No. 4273/2016 has been proposed in the Chamber of Deputies to set new compliance deadlines for Law No. 13.233/2015, which requires the packaging of cleaning products and equipment to display labels on water shortages and the need for water conservation. New products would have one year to come into compliance with the Law, while currently sold products would have two years.

Bill Requiring Electronics to Display Estimated Useful Life Proposed

Bill No. 3903/2015 has been proposed in the Chamber of Deputies to require electronics and appliances to display a product’s estimated useful life. Under the Bill, owners of electronics or appliances that become obsolete (due to circumstances outside the consumer’s control) before the end of the displayed time period could return the products to the supplier within seven business days. The supplier would be obligated to refund the consumer or provide a replacement product.

Bill Requiring Retailers to Collect End-of-Life Products and Packaging Proposed

Chamber of Deputies Bill No. 226/2015 would amend the National Solid Waste Policy Law (No. 12305/2010) to state explicitly that retailers and distributors are obligated to collect end-of-life products and packaging from consumers. Under the Law's existing provisions for reverse logistics, consumers must return end-of-life products to retailers and distributors, who must return them to manufacturers and importers through take-back systems that are to be established through sectoral agreements.

Colombia

2016 Action Plan for Mining and Energy Sector Published

MINMINAS has published its 2016 Action Plan for the mining and energy sector, which includes weighted objectives, targets, and indicators for internal departments. Highlights include developing and adopting policies, plans, programs, and guidelines to support the implementation of the Technical Labeling Regulation (RETIQ) and reducing the use of mercury in gold extraction processes in support of the goals set forth by the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

Environmental Benefit Certification for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficient Projects Proposed

The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MinAmbiente) has proposed a bill establishing procedures and requirements for obtaining Environmental Benefit Certification from non-conventional energy and energy efficient projects. Entities granted certification would be eligible for tax benefits on the procurement of components, equipment, machinery, and services needed to carry out their projects.

Draft Green Marketing Claims Regulation Published

The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MinAmbiente) has published a draft regulation implementing its Green Marketing Claims Law (Decree No. 1369/2014), which regulates "green marketing," i.e. advertising with an environmental message about products or services. The draft regulation applies to importers, producers, distributers, and sellers of goods (i.e. products, product components or parts, and packaging) and services that are advertised through labels, promotional materials, or other forms of marketing in any medium.

Ecuador

MIPRO Issues Resolution Promoting Labeling Industry

The Ministry of Industry and Productivity (MIPRO) has published Resolution No. 16049, which aims to promote the growth and development of the industry dedicated to the labeling/relabeling of products imported into the country that are subject to Ecuadorian Technical Regulations (RTE INEN). The Resolution aims to reduce operating costs for importers.

Mexico

Senate Initiative Would Require Proof for Claimed Product Attributes

A draft decree proposed in the Senate would introduce a new provision to the Consumer Protection Code requiring suppliers of goods and services to possess proof of characteristics, conditions, or benefits claimed through any form of media. Acceptable proof would include studies, tests, or analysis conducted through scientific methods, considered rational, truthful, and objective.

Organic Food and GMO Labeling Bill Proposed

A bill regulating the labeling of organic foods and GMOs has been proposed in the Chamber of Deputies. The bill’s development was spurred by consumer calls for transparency and concerns over the uncertain long-term health effects associated with GMO consumption over time.

Standard for Management of Hazardous Waste Residues in Transport Units Goes into Effect

SCT has published NOM-019-SCT2/2015, which establishes technical specifications and general provisions for the cleaning and control of residues in units that transport substances, materials, and hazardous waste. The standard goes into effect 60 days following its publication in the Official Gazette.

First Phase of Ozone Management Project Complete

The first phase of Mexico’s Project for the Management and Destruction of Substances that Deplete the Ozone is now complete. To date, the country reports that it has successfully eliminated 97.5% of ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) and completely replaced chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), carbon tetrachloride, halons, and methyl bromide. To combat remaining ODSs, Mexico will implement the National Plan for the Elimination of Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which aims to eliminate 67.5% of these substances by 2022.

Energy Efficiency Standard for Ductless Split System Air Conditioners Goes Into Effect

The National Advisory Committee of Standardization for the Preservation and Rational Use of Energy Resources (CCNNPURRE) has published NOM-026-ENER-2015, which establishes energy efficiency limits, testing, and labeling requirements for ductless split system air conditioners with variable refrigerant flow. The standard goes into effect 180 days following its publication in the Official Gazette.

DTT Transition Complete

Mexico has become the first Latin American country to transition from analog TVs to digital terrestrial TVs (DTTs). Through coordinated efforts between the Secretariats of Communications and Transport (SCT) and Environment (SEMARNAT), over 10.1 million DTTs have been distributed throughout the country. Analog TV collection centers will remain in operation until November 2018. The Mexican Congress has pushed to strengthen the DTT Transition Program by calling for SCT and SEMARNATto create a telephone hotline for citizens to request collection of used analog TVs.

Peru

New Measures for Efficient Energy Use in Public Sector Enacted

The Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) has published Supreme Decree No. 004-2016-EM, requiring all public entities and/or companies to replace outdated equipment with equipment that meets the highest energy efficiency standards. It repeals Supreme Decree No. 034-2008-EM and applies to lamps, ballasts for fluorescent lamps, refrigerators, washing machines, dryers for household use, air conditioners, and water heaters, among others. Technical specifications for covered equipment will be approved within a maximum period of one year through Ministerial Resolution.

Additional Waste Management Responsibilities for Municipalities Proposed

Bill No. 5134/2015-CR has been proposed in the Unicameral Congress to modify the General Solid Waste Law (No. 237314) to require municipalities to oversee and sanction companies that provide public transportation services to passengers that throw trash on national or regional roads. Municipalities would need to notify the Public Ministry within 5 days of detecting such acts.

As part of our International Environmental Law practice group, Beveridge & Diamond's Latin America practice group helps multinational clients navigate dynamic and unprecedented change in Latin American environmental law. We counsel clients from various industrial sectors on a wide range of issues arising under the domestic environmental regulations of most Latin American countries with an emphasis in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, and Peru. For more information, please contact the authors.

Subscribe

Sign up to receive topical news alerts, event invitations, and other updates.

Keep Me Updated

Authors

Madeleine Boyer

Madeleine Boyer

Russell N. Fraker

Russell N. Fraker

Related Service Areas & Industries

  • Air, Climate Change
  • Agriculture
  • Chemicals
  • Chemicals Regulation
  • Consumer Products
  • Endangered Species, Wildlife Protection
  • Forest Products, Timber, Paper
  • Hazardous Materials and Dangerous Goods Transportation
  • Infrastructure and Project Development and Permitting
  • International Environmental Law
  • Land Development, Real Estate, Housing
  • Mining, Metals
  • Natural Resources, Federal Lands
  • Oil, Gas
  • Product Stewardship, Global Supply Chains
  • Superfund, Site Remediation, Natural Resource Damages
  • Toxic Torts, Environmental Tort
  • Waste, Recycling
  • Waste Treatment, Recycling, Disposal Services
  • Water

Related Resources

  • Latin American Environmental Regulation Resource Center

Latin American Environmental Regulation Resource Center

Stay educated on the rapid evolution of environmental law in Latin America.

Read more
Follow Us:
Subscribe
  • Locations
  • Disclaimer
  • Website Credits
©2023 Beveridge & Diamond PC
Beveridge & Diamond PC is a professional corporation with its principal office located in Washington, DC. This website may be considered lawyer advertising. We welcome your interest, but please do not include any confidential information in your inquiry.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Find a Person
  • Agriculture
  • Air, Climate Change
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Audits, Risk and Compliance Program Assessments
  • Biotechnology
  • Biotechnology and Pesticides Regulation
  • Chemicals
  • Chemicals Regulation
  • Consumer Products
  • Contracts, Indemnification
  • Crisis Planning and Response
  • Electric Power
  • Electronics, Information Technology, Telecommunications
  • Endangered Species, Wildlife Protection
  • Enforcement Defense, Citizen Suits
  • Environmental Crimes, White Collar
  • Environmental Justice
  • Fisheries & Aquaculture
  • Food, Beverage
  • Forest Products, Timber, Paper
  • Hazardous Materials and Dangerous Goods Transportation
  • Industrial Hemp & Cannabis
  • Infrastructure and Project Development and Permitting
  • Insurance Recovery
  • International Environmental Law
  • Land Development, Real Estate, Housing
  • Litigation
  • Manufacturing
  • Mining, Metals
  • Municipal and State Governments
  • Natural Resources, Federal Lands
  • NEPA and Historic Preservation Reviews
  • Occupational Safety and Health
  • Oil, Gas
  • Pesticides
  • Pharmaceuticals, Health Care
  • Pipelines
  • Plastics
  • Product Stewardship, Global Supply Chains
  • Refining, Petrochemicals
  • Renewable Energy
  • Retail
  • Superfund, Site Remediation, Natural Resource Damages
  • Sustainability, ESG
  • Textiles and Fashion
  • Toxic Torts, Environmental Tort
  • Transactions, Due Diligence
  • Transportation
  • Universities, Colleges
  • Waste Treatment, Recycling, Disposal Services
  • Waste, Recycling
  • Water
  • AgTech Regulatory Resource Center
  • Chemical Regulation Resource Center
  • COVID-19 EH&S Resource Center
  • Latin American Environmental Regulation Resource Center
  • Texas Environmental Resource Center
  • West Coast Environmental Resource Center
  • Austin
  • Baltimore
  • Boston
  • Framingham
  • New York
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Washington
  • Analyst
  • Associate
  • Of Counsel
  • Paralegal
  • Principal
  • Senior Counsel
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • District of Columbia
  • District of Columbia, Special Legal Consultant
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • New York, Foreign Legal Consultant
  • North Carolina
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Southern District of Texas
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • Wisconsin
  • American University
  • Amherst College
  • Arizona State University
  • Barnard College
  • Baylor University
  • Boston College
  • Boston University
  • Bowdoin College
  • Brooklyn Law School
  • Brown Mackie College
  • California Institute of Technology
  • Carleton College
  • Catholic University of America
  • Central Michigan University
  • Claremont McKenna College
  • Clark University
  • Clemson University
  • Colby College
  • Colgate University
  • College of Charleston
  • College of William and Mary
  • Columbia University
  • Community College of Baltimore County
  • Connecticut College
  • Cornell University
  • Dartmouth College
  • Duke University
  • Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University
  • Elon University
  • Emory University
  • Erasmus University Rotterdam
  • Escuela Libre de Derecho, México
  • Fairfield University
  • Franklin & Marshall College
  • George Washington University
  • Georgetown University
  • Gettysburg College
  • Global Institute of Technology
  • Harvard University
  • Hendrix College
  • Hobart and William Smith Colleges
  • Howard University
  • Indiana University
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • Kalamazoo College
  • Kyiv National University of Trade and Economics
  • Lehigh University
  • Lewis & Clark
  • London School of Economics
  • Long Island University
  • Louisiana State University
  • Madonna University
  • Middlebury College
  • Millard Fillmore College
  • Muhlenberg College
  • New York University
  • Northeastern University School of Law
  • Northwestern University
  • Oklahoma State University
  • Pace University
  • Princeton University
  • Providence College
  • Reed College
  • Rhodes College
  • Rio de Janeiro Catholic University
  • Rio de Janeiro Federal University
  • Rutgers University
  • Santa Clara University
  • Seattle Pacific University
  • Seattle University
  • Seattle University School of Law
  • Sewanee: The University of the South
  • Southwestern University
  • Stanford University
  • State University of New York - Binghamton
  • State University of New York - Empire State
  • State University of New York - Purchase
  • State University of New York at Buffalo
  • Suffolk University
  • Syracuse University
  • Texas A&M University
  • Texas State University
  • The Ohio State University
  • Touro College
  • Trinity University
  • Tulane University
  • United States Military Academy
  • Università degli Studi di Firenze, Italia
  • University of Arizona
  • University of California - Berkeley
  • University of California - Davis
  • University of California - Santa Cruz
  • University of Chicago
  • University of Colorado - Boulder
  • University of Delaware
  • University of Florida
  • University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
  • University of Kansas
  • University of Klagenfurt
  • University of Maryland - Baltimore
  • University of Maryland - College Park
  • University of Maryland School of Law
  • University of Massachusetts
  • University of Miami
  • University of Michigan
  • University of Missouri
  • University of New England
  • University of Notre Dame
  • University of Oregon
  • University of Oxford
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • University of Pittsburgh
  • University of Puget Sound
  • University of South Carolina
  • University of Southern California
  • University of Texas - Austin
  • University of Texas School of Law
  • University of Utah
  • University of Virginia
  • University of Washington
  • University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
  • Vanderbilt University
  • Vermont Law School
  • Wake Forest University
  • Washington and Lee University
  • Washington University
  • Washington University in St. Louis
  • Wellesley College
  • Wesleyan University
  • Western Washington University
  • Williams College
  • Yale University
  • York College of Pennsylvania
  • Zhongnan University of Economics and Law
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZView All
View All
Find a Service Area or Industry
View All
  • Publications
    • Articles
    • News Alerts
    • Newsletters
    • Podcasts
  • Events & Webinars
Resource Centers
COVID-19 EH&S Resource Center
Updates, analyses, and webinars for navigating the pandemic, protecting your employees, and minimizing business interruptions.
AgTech Regulatory Resource Center
Monitor key changes to the regulation of agricultural biotechnology products, genetically engineered organisms, and related R&D activities.
Chemical Regulation Resource Center
Stay educated about and plan for developments impacting the global chemicals industry.
Latin American Environmental Regulation Resource Center
Navigate the dynamic and unprecedented change in Latin American environmental law.
Texas Environmental Resource Center
Stay abreast of environmental law developments in Texas and the Gulf Coast region.
West Coast Environmental Resource Center
Stay educated and plan for environmental developments in the Western U.S.
  • About Us
  • Community & Social Responsibility
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    • Pro Bono
    • Sustainability
  • Careers
  • Firm News
  • Contact Us