Iodized Salt (Production, Sale and Distribution) Act, 2055 (No. 16 of 1998)

www.lawcommission.gov.np www.lawcommission.gov.np 1 Iodized Salt (Production, Sale and Distribution) Act, 2055(1998) Date of Authentication and Publication 2055.10.1 (15 Ja n, 1999) Amendme nt Republic Strengthening and Some Nepal Laws Amendment Act, 2066 (2010)1 2066.10.7 (21 Jan. 2010) Act N umbe r 16 of the year 2055 (1998) An A ct made to provide for iod ized sal t Whereas, it is expedient to make provis ion for the produc tion, impor t, supply, sa le, dis tr ibut ion of iodized sa lt in a proper qua nt ity and for mixing iodine with sa lt in order to pre ve nt and era dic ate exte ns ive a nd ser ious effects caused to public hea lth from iodine deficie nc y; Now, there fore, be it enacte d by Parl iament in the Twenty Se venth reign of H is Ma je sty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah De v. Chapter-1 Preliminary 1. Short ti tle and commencement: (1) This Act ma y be cal led as the "Iodize d Salt (Produc tion, Sa le a nd D is tr ibut ion) Act, 2055 (1998) ". 1 This Act came into force on 15 Jestha 2065, "Prasasti" and the word "Kingdom" has been deleted. www.lawcommission.gov.np www.lawcommission.gov.np 2 (2) This Act shall commence in suc h area on such date as the Go ve rnment of Nepa l ma y appoint, by a Not ifica tion in the Nepal Gaze tte. 2. Defin itions: Unless the subject or the c onte xt otherwise require s, in this Act : (a) "iodized sa lt" means the iodized salt in granular or pow der form w ith m inimum 96 percent sodium c hloride, white, pa le p ink or ligh t grey in co lour, free from visib le contam ination with c lay, grit a nd o ther extraneous adulterant a nd im purit ies and with qua lity standard as fixe d pur suant to Sec tion 15. (b) "permit" means the perm it to be issued pur suant to Sec t ion 7 for the product ion, import, supply or sale a nd d ist ribut ion of the iodized sa lt. (c) "Commit tee " means an iodine defic ie nc y disorder pre vention com mittee const itu ted pursua nt to Sec t ion 12. (d) "product ion" means the ma nufac tur ing of iodiz ed sa lt by mixing iodine with iodine free sa lt. (e) "producer " means any person or organizat ion having obta ine d the permit who is in volve d in product ion d ire ct ly or through an a ge nt or controlle d per son by a greement or under a greement. (f) “organiza tion” means a firm, company or body c orporate registere d under the pre va il ing law. (g) “ im por t” means a n act of im portat ion of iodize d sa lt or iod ine fre e salt in to Nepal. www.lawcommission.gov.np www.lawcommission.gov.np 3 (h) “ im por ter” means a person or orga nizat ion ha ving obta ine d permit to import iod ize d sa lt. ( i) “supply” me ans the act of delivery of iodized salt to a d ist ributor or c onsumer. ( j) “supplier” means a person or orga nizat ion ha ving obta ine d permit to supply iodize d sa lt. (k) “sa le and d istr ibution” mea ns pro vis ion of informat ion service of iodiz ed salt, promotion, adver t iseme nt, d ist ribut ion of sample of iodize d sa lt and market ing such salt, on beha lf of the produce r. ( l) “dis tr ibutor” mea ns any person enga ged in the sale a nd d ist ribut ion of iodize d salt by whole sa le or reta il. (m) “ inspector” means a n inspec tor appointe d or de s ignated pur suant to Sub-sect ion (1) of Sect ion 18. (n) "label" mea ns a ta g, symbol, pic ture or other de scr ipt ive thing written, pr inted, lithogra phed, sym bol ized, embossed or inc lude d or otherwise partic ularized in a packa ge used to pack iodized sa lt. (o) “sample" means a small quant ity of iodized sa lt p repared for the tes t or for bus ine ss promotion. (p) “pre scr ibe d" or “as pre scr ibe d” mea ns pre scr ibed or as prescr ibe d in the rule s framed under th is Ac t. www.lawcommission.gov.np www.lawcommission.gov.np 4 Chapter-2 Provisions relating to permit 3. Prohibition on import, purchase and sale of iodine free sal t: No per son sha ll impor t in to Ne pal and purchase and se ll iod ine free sa lt without obtain ing permission as pre scribed from the c omm ittee. 4. Permit to be obtained to produce, import, supply, sell and distribute iodized sal t: A person or orga nizat ion inte nding to produce, import, supply, sell and d is tr ibute iodized salt has to obta in the permit pursua nt to this Act. 5. Application for permit: A person or organiza t ion in te nding to obtain the permit pur sua nt to Sect ion 4 has to make an appl ication, accompanied by the fee s as prescribed, to the committee, in the forma t as prescribed. 6. Inquiry regarding issue of permit: Where an applicat ion is made under Sect ion 5, the comm itte e sha ll inquire into the follow ing matters : (a) Technica l a spect a nd ca pac ity for the product ion, im port, supply, sa le and d ist r ibution of salt, (b) Financ ia l status of the a pplica nt, (c) If iod ine free salt is to be impor ted for the purpose of production, fea sib ility study report the reon, (d) If the im porte d iodine sa lt is to be supplied, sold a nd d ist ribute d, a fea sib ility s tudy re port there of a nd other necessary docume nts perta inin g thereto, www.lawcommission.gov.np www.lawcommission.gov.np 5 (e) Areas where iodized sa lt is supplied, sold and d is tribute d, (f) Other necessary matters as pre scr ibed. 7. Issuance of permit: If, the comm ittee c onsiders, upon having made inquir ies pursua nt to Se ct ion 6, that the a pplica nt is com petent to produce, import, supply, sell and d istr ibute iodized salt, the c ommit tee sha ll issue the permit to the appl icant in the prescribed format. 8. Period and renewal of permit: ( 1) Exce pt where the perm it is re voke d ear lie r pur sua nt to Sec tion 11, the per iod of the permit for produc t ion shall be for a maximum per iod of Fifteen year s and the per iod of the perm it for im port, supply, sale a nd d ist ribut ion sha ll be for a maxim um period of Thre e years. (2) No later tha n at least s ix months pr ior to the expira t ion of the pe r iod as referre d to in Sub-sect ion (1), an appl ication, ac compa nie d by the fees as prescribed, ha s to be made to the comm it tee in the pre scr ibe d forma t for the re newal of the permit. (3) Where a n a pplic ation is not ma de for the re newal of permit w ith in the time lim it as re ferred to in Sub-sect ion (2), the permit sha ll not be re newed; the permit which so expires sha l l be deeme d to be i pso fac to ca nce led. 9. Permit not to be issued: Where a perm it is issue d to a ny person or body for the produc t ion, impor t, supply, sale a nd d ist ribut ion of iodized sa lt in any spec if ied area, no perm it sha l l be issued to any other per son or body for the produc tion, impor t, supply, sa le and d istr ibut ion of iodized sa lt in the same area during the per iod spec ifie d in the permit. www.lawcommission.gov.np www.lawcommission.gov.np 6 Pro vided tha t, if the c ommit tee c ome s to learn tha t the person or body having obta ined permit ha s not been able to produce, import, supply , sell and d is tr ibute the iodize d sa lt as demande d in the are a me ntione d in the permit and the mat ter appears to be rea sonable on holding an inquiry a s pr escr ibed, the comm it tee may give perm it to any other person or body to produce, import, supply, se ll a nd d istr ibute the iodize d salt. 10. Terms to be fol lowed by person or body having obtained permit: The tec hnic al a nd ma na ger ial te rms re quire d to be followed by the person or body ha ving obtained pe rmit in the cour se of product ion, import, supply, sa le and d ist r ibut ion of salt shall be as pre scr ibe d. 11. Power to revoke permit: (1) If a per son or body having obta ine d pe rm it doe s not follow the terms re quire d to be followed pursuant to Sec t ion 10 in the cour se of produc tion, impor t, supply, sale a nd d is tr ibut ion of iodized salt, the committee may give necessary order to suc h person or body to observe suc h terms, with spec ificat ion of ce rta in per iod. (2) If the person or body ha ving obta ine d perm it doe s not carry out the order w ith in the period spec if ied pur suant to Sub sect ion (1), the comm itte e may re voke the perm it of such person or body. (3) Pr ior to the re voca tion of permit pur sua nt to Sub sect ion (2), the c ommit tee shall g ive a rea sonable opportunity to the c oncerned person or body ha ving obtained perm it to furn ish e xpla na tion. www.lawcommission.gov.np www.lawcommission.gov.np 7 (4) A pe rson or body who is not sa t is fied w ith the dec ision ma de by the c ommit tee to r e voke pe rm it pur suant to Sub-sect ion (2) may make a n appea l to the Minis try w ith in Thir ty Five days. Chapter-3 Iodine Deficiency Disorder Prevention C ommittee 12. Iod ine Deficiency Disorder Prevention Committee: (1) There shall be formed a n Iodine Defic iency Disorder Pre vention Commit tee consist ing of the cha irper son a nd member a s follows in order to make im pleme ntat ion pur suant to the pol ic ies and d irections of the Gove rnment of Nepal. (a) Secretary, Minis try of Hea lth and P opula t ion Chairper son (b) Re pre senta t ive ( Gazetted First Cla ss), Ministry of Industry Member (c) Re pre senta t ive ( Gazetted First Cla ss), Ministry of Suppl ies Member (d) Re pre senta t ive ( Gazetted First Cla ss), Ministry of Comm erce Member (e) Re pre senta t ive ( Gazetted First Cla ss), Minis try of Health and Populat ion Member (f) Chief, Central Food Member www.lawcommission.gov.np www.lawcommission.gov.np 8 Laboratory (g) Re pre senta t ive, Cham ber of Commerce and Industry Member (h) Two per sons nom ina te d by the Go ve rnment of Nepa l from amongst the per sons or bodies in volved in the produc tion, impor t, supply, sa le and distr ibut ion of iodized sa lt Member (i) Nutr it ion spec ia list nominated by the Governme nt of Nepal Member (j) One person on be half of consumers Member (k) Such officer in the Minis t ry of Health and P opulat ion as des ignated by the Government of Nepa l Member Secretary (2) The te nure of office of the members as re ferred to in Cla use s (h), ( i) , ( j) and (k) a nd the mem ber secretary sha ll be Two years a nd they m ay be re-nominated. (3) The c ommit tee may in vite a n expert a s a n obser ver at it s mee ting. (4) The Go vernment of Nepa l ma y, by a not ificat ion in www.lawcommission.gov.np www.lawcommission.gov.np 9 the Nepa l Ga zet te, make nece ssary alteration or change in respect of the mem bers. (5) The Secretariat of the commit tee shal l be loca ted at the Minis t ry of Health a nd Populat ion. (6) The Go vernme nt of Nepa l sha ll pro vide such budget as may be re quire d for the comm ittee. 13. Meeting of committee: (1) The c ommittee shall hold its meeting at least four times a year. (2) The me eting of the commit tee shall be he ld at such p lac e, time and date a s ma y be spec ifie d by the chairper son. (3) The prese nce of Fifty percent members of the committee sha ll be de emed to c onst itute a quorum for a meeting of the comm ittee. (4) A ma jor ity opinion sha ll pre va il a t the mee ting of the committee. In the e vent of a t ie, the c ha irperson sha ll exerc ise the ca s ting vote. (5) The dec isions of the Council shall be authe nt icate d by the me mber secre tary. (6) Other procedure s re lat ing to the me et ing of the committee shal l be a s de termined by the com mitte e itse lf. 14. Functions, duties and powers of committee: In addit ion to the other func t ions, du t ies and power s me ntione d in this Act, the funct ions, du t ies and power s of the comm it tee sha ll be as follow s: www.lawcommission.gov.np www.lawcommission.gov.np 10 (a) To appro ve, as prescr ibe d, the labe l and pac ka ge of iodized salt subm itte d by a produc er, importer, supplier and dis tr ibutor. (b) To ma ke c oordinat ion in ac t ivit ies on the publicity of informat ion and educat iona l mater ials re lat ing to iodiz ed salt. (c) To ma ke super vis ion and monitor ing as pre scr ibe d as to whether the provisions of th is Act and the ru le s fram ed here under ha ve been fo l lowed or not. (d) To give necessary direct ion to the inspec tor to invest iga te and file ca se aga ins t a per son who produce s, impor ts, supplies, se l ls and d istr ibute s iodized sa lt or iodine free salt in contra ve nt ion of the provis ions of th is Ac t and the Rules framed here under. Chapter-4 Certif ication of Quality and Approval of Label 15. Standards: (1) The require d s tanda rds of iodiz ed sa lt at the t ime of its product ion, import, supply, sa le and d is tribut ion sha l l be a s fixe d or recomm ende d by the s ta nda rds commit tee. (2) The Go vernment of Ne pa l sha ll publ ish in the Ne pal Ga zette the sta ndards of iodized sa lt fixe d or recomme nde d by the comm it tee pursua nt to Sub-sect ion (1). (3) The Ce ntra l Food La boratory shall ha ve powers to examine whe ther the iodiz ed sa lt produced in or impor ted in to Nepal conform s to the standards as me ntione d in Sub-sect ion (1). www.lawcommission.gov.np www.lawcommission.gov.np 11 (4) The iodize d sa lt arr iving the e xpiry date of standards fixe d pur sua nt to Sub-sect ion (1) sha ll not be supplied, so ld or d ist ribute d, or cause d to be suppl ied, sold or d istribute d, in marke ts. (5) The procedures to be followed by the producer, impor ter, supplier, se ller a nd d is tr ibutor in packing a nd transport ing the iodize d sa lt sha ll be as pre scr ibed in order to pre vent degra dat ion in qua l ity of iodize d salt, a dulterat ion ther ein and infect ion there of. 16. Certi fication of standards: (1) A produc er, dea ler or d ist ributor sha ll, pr ior to the sa le and d is tribut ion of iodized salt through a dea ler in Nepa l, ge t it exam ine d and standards ther eof cert ifie d by the Centra l Food Laboratory. (2) In the ca se of iodiz ed sa lt alrea dy produce d or impor ted and marketed pr ior to the commencement of this Act, it s producer or supplie r or d istr ibutor shall ge t it exam ine d by and obta in certif icat ion of sta ndards from the Ce ntral Food Labora tory no later than six months after the da te of comme ncement of th is Act. (3) The producer, im por ter or dis tributor shall, for purposes of Sub- sec tions (1) and (2), make an a ppl ica tion, accompanie d by a sample of iodized salt a nd the required fee, to the Centra l Food Laboratory, in the pre scr ibed forma t. (4) O n receip t of the sample acc ompa nie d by the appl ication pur suant to Sub-sect ion (3), the Centra l Food Labora tory sha ll tes t it whether it conforms to the standards www.lawcommission.gov.np www.lawcommission.gov.np 12 fixe d pursua nt to Section 15 a nd cer tify the standards there of if it is found to conform to the s tandards fixed. 17. Approval of Label: (1) Pr ior to the sa le and d istr ibution of iodized sa lt produce d in or im por te d in to Nepa l, it s producer or impor ter or dis tributor sha ll ma ke an applicat ion, accompanied by the fees as pre scr ibed, to the c ommit tee for approva l of a labe l of suc h iodized sa lt. (2) In the case of iodized salt a lrea dy produc ed in or impor ted into Nepal pr ior to the commenceme nt of this Act, its producer or supplier or dis tr ibutor sha ll ge t its labe l a pproved by the c ommit tee no la ter than s ix months a fter the date of comme ncement of th is Act. (3) The producer, supplier or dis tr ibutor sha ll pre pare the labe l of iod ize d salt in suc h a manner a s to give nece ssary informat ion about, a nd encoura ge, the proper uses of iodized salt. (4) A c lea r and eas ily under standa ble me ssa ge with follow ing informat ion shal l be pr in ted in the la be l in the Nepa li langua ge, and in the English langua ge as per nece ssity: (a) A logo a s approve d by the comm ittee, (b) Full nam e and a ddress of the producer a nd packa ging person or body, (c) Net we ight of iod ized sa lt in the pac ka ge, (d) Year and month of the pac kaging, (e) Iodine content in PPM, www.lawcommission.gov.np www.lawcommission.gov.np 13 (f) Measures a nd tec hniques to be fol lowe d to a void the loss, de prec iat ion and dec rease of iodine, ( g) Expiry date of sta ndards of iodize salt, (h) Other informat ion as pre scr ibe d. 18. Appointment, functions, duties and powers of inspector: (1) The Minis try ma y, on recomm enda t ion of the comm ittee, appoin t the inspectors in the required num ber in order to inspect a nd inquire into whe the r the producer, importer, supplier and d istr ibutor ha ve observe d this Act or the Rules framed under th is Ac t or may, with the appro val of the concerne d body, designa te any employee incumbent in the service of the Governme nt of Nepa l to ac t as a n inspector. (2) The qua l ificat ion re quired for the inspec tor shall be as prescr ibe d. (3) The inspector sha ll inspect and inquir e into, as prescr ibe d, whether the producer, im porte r, supplier a nd d ist ributor ha ve observed th is Act or the rules fr amed under this Ac t and subm it a re por t thereof to the commit tee. (4) The functions and power s of the inspec tor, other than those mentione d in Sub- sec tion (3), shall be as pre scr ibe d. Chapter-5 Information, Education and Obligations of Health Institutions 19. Information and education on iodized sal t: (1) The Minis try shall grant approva l for the propa ga t ion of use ful www.lawcommission.gov.np www.lawcommission.gov.np 14 informat ion and e ducat ional ma ter ia ls about iodized sa lt, in writ ten, a udible or visib le form. (2) The informa t ion and e duc at ional ma ter ials about iodized salt as re ferred to in Sub- sec tion (1) sha ll be of such k ind a s to provide c lear informat ion a bout the fo llowing matters : (a) Necessity a nd im por ta nce of iodized sa lt for the health of human be ings a nd anima ls, (b) Be ne fits fr om the use iodized salt, (c) Poss ible e ffec ts on the hea lth of huma n beings and anima ls from e ating or fee ding non- iodized sa lt, (d) Difference of pr ice between iodize d salt and non- iodized sa lt, (e) Ways and techniques to be fo llowe d to a void loss or e vaporat ion of iodine m ixe d with iodized sa lt. (3) Only the cor rect and use ful informat ion sha ll be contained in the informa tion and educa t ional mater ia ls as refe rred to in Sub-sec t ion (2) and sha ll be suc h kind as to d isc ourage the use of iodine free sa lt. 20. Obligations of health insti tution: ( 1) The Minis try sha ll give nece ssary orde r and direct ion to the hea lth ins titut ion to adopt necessary measures to encoura ge the genera l public to consume iodize d salt. www.lawcommission.gov.np www.lawcommission.gov.np 15 (2) It sha ll be the duty of the hea lth ins titut ion to car ry out the order a nd d irec tion give n by the M inistry pur suant to sub- sect ion (1). 21. Powers to suspend or cancel license, permit or authorization: (1) If, ba sed on the repor t submit ted by the inspector under Sub- section (3) of Sect ion 18, it a ppears that any producer, d is tr ibutor, im porter, suppl ier, seller a nd d ist ributor have not observed th is Act or the Rule s or d irect ion or order frame d or issue d under th is Act, the Minis try may, on recomme ndation of the comm ittee, wr ite to the c oncerned body to suspend or cancel the lice nse, perm it or a uthor iz ation which suc h producer, dis tributor, importer, supplier, se ller a nd d ist ributor ha ve obta ine d from the Go vernment of Ne pa l or a ny other body. (2) Where writ ing is made to it pursua nt to Sub-sect ion (1), the concerne d body sha ll also take nec essary action to suspend or c ancel suc h lice nse, permit or authorizat ion. Chapter-6 Offense and Punishment 22. Offense considered to be committed: If one doe s a n a ct as follow s, one shall be deemed to ha ve comm it te d the offense as refe rred to in th is Act : (a) Import, sale or d ist r ibut ion of iodine free salt in to or in Nepal w ithout obta in ing approva l of the comm it tee pur suant to Sec tion 3, www.lawcommission.gov.np www.lawcommission.gov.np 16 (b) Produc tion, impor t, supply, sa le or dis tribut ion of iodiz ed salt in to or in Ne pal without obtain ing perm it pur suant to Sec t ion 4, (c) Produc tion, im port, supply, sale a nd d istr ibution of iodized salt that do not c onform to the s tanda rd fixed pur suant to Sec tion 15, (d) Any a ct o ther than the acts m entioned in c lauses (a), ( b) and (c), in c ontra vent ion to th is Ac t a nd the ru le s fram ed here under. 23. Punishment: One w ho comm its an offense as r eferre d to in the follow ing c lauses of Se ction 22 sha l l be punished as fo llow s: (a) One who commits the offense as re ferred to in clauses (a), (b) a nd (c) sha ll be punished w ith a fine equivalent to the amount in contro ver sy, w ith confiscat ion of the amount in contro ver sy, or w ith im pr isonme nt for a term not exceeding One year or with both. (b) One who comm its the offense a s re ferred to in Clause (b) sha l l be punished with a fine not excee ding One Thousa nd Rupees, according to the nature of offense. Chapter-7 Miscellaneous 24. Liability of body: If a ny body comm its a ny act considered as an offense pur sua nt to th is Ac t, the officer who acts a s the chie f administ rat ive officer of that body shall be l iab le to punishme nt. www.lawcommission.gov.np www.lawcommission.gov.np 17 Pro vided that, suc h per son sha ll no t be liab le to punishme nt for an offe nse c ommitte d prior to his /her be ing chie f adm inist rat ive officer. 25. Powers to form sub-committee: (1) The comm it tee may, as per nece ssity, form a sub-comm itte e for the implementat ion of the pro vis ions conta ine d in th is Act and the Rules frame d under this Ac t. (2) The funct ions, dut ies and powers a nd procedures of the sub-c ommit tee to be formed pursua nt to Sub- sec t ion (1) sha l l be a s pre scr ibed by the com mitte e. 26. Delegation of powers: The c ommit tee m ay, a s per nece ss ity, dele ga te a ny of the powers c onferred to it pursua nt to this Act to the cha irper son or any mem ber of the committee or convener of member of a sub-c ommit tee or officer employee. 27. Government to be the Plaintiff: Government of Nepal shall be the plaintiff the case under this Act. 28. Investigation and filing of case: (1) The inspector sha ll inve st iga te a ca se re lated with an offe nse punisha ble under th is Act and, after complet ion of such in vest igation, fi le a ca se in the Dis tr ict Court. (2) In in ves t iga ting and fi ling the ca se pursua nt to Sub sect ion (1), the inspe ctor sha ll see k a dvice of the governme nt attorney. 29. Powers to frame Rules: The Government of Ne pal may frame necessary Rule s in order to im pleme nt the object ives of th is Act.