The Portuguese Government implemented a set of measures for the promotion of health in general, and in particular for the adoption of healthy eating habits, aiming to transmit a clear signal and contributing to the improvement of the supply of healthy food options, through the limitation of products that are harmful to health in vending machines available at the various institutions of the Ministry of Health.

The contracts to be executed, for the installation and operation of vending machines, by the institutions of the Ministry of Health, are the direct or indirect administration of the State or the public services and entities providing health care that are part of the SNS, namely health centers, hospitals, irrespective of their designation, and local health units, cannot cover the sale of some products, like salted puff pastry; pastry; bread or croissant with sweet filling; charcuterie, namely sandwiches or other products containing charcuteries products; sandwich or other products containing ketchup, mayonnaise or mustard; cookies and biscuits containing, for each 100 g, a lipid content of more than 20 g and / or a sugar content exceeding 20 g; soft drinks, in particular cola drinks, tea extract, flavored waters, soft drinks or energy drinks; "sweets", in particular candies, caramels, lollipops or gums; snacks, namely strips of corn, potato chips, snacks and sweet or salty popcorn; desserts, namely chocolate mousse, milk-cream or sweet rice; quick meals, namely hamburgers, hot dogs or pizzas; chocolates in packages exceeding 50g and alcoholic drinks. Also, the hot drinks machines must reduce the sugar quantity to the maximum of 5 g per drink and vending machines, in general, must have available water bottles and, preferentially, provide medium-fat or low-fat yogurt and milk, preferably with no added sugar, fruit juices and nectars, bread added with medium-fat or low-fat cheese, low fat and salt ham, meat, tuna or other preserved fish, and also fresh fruit.

Our Labeling and Regulatory Division can support every company who needs support to align with the new rules.

Source: Diário da República