Legislators in Chile and Peru propose new consumer protection laws

Legislators in Chile and Peru are advancing measures to enhance consumer and public health protections.

In Chile, Deputy Héctor Barría announced plans for a bill to increase sanctions and oversight during commercial events like Cyber Days. The proposal follows consumer complaints regarding the sale of defective or low-quality products under the guise of discounts. Barría emphasized that the initiative aims to empower institutions like Sernac to more effectively penalize companies that use sales events to clear out damaged inventory.

In Peru, the Chamber of Deputies is debating a bill proposed by Deputy César Holguín Loaiza to remove food products from the market if they exceed permitted limits for pesticides, heavy metals, or microbiological contaminants. The bill seeks to mandate food traceability and enforce agricultural best practices. This follows data from Senasa indicating that 21.75% of 4,902 tested plant-based samples, including paprika, celery, and tomatoes, contained pesticide residues above authorized levels.