Friday, 21 August 2015

SINDH COMPULSORY IODIZATION OF SALT ACT, 2013.

PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY OF SINDH
NOTIFICATION KARACHI, THE 1ST APRIL, 2013.

NO.PAS/Legis-B-22/2013-The Sindh Compulsory Iodization of Salt Bill, 2013 having been passed by the Provincial Assembly of Sindh on 14th March, 2013 and assented to by the Governor of Sindh on 28th March, 2013 is hereby published as an Act of the Legislature of Sindh.

THE SINDH COMPULSORY IODIZATION OF SALT ACT, 2013.

SINDH ACT NO. XXXVII OF 2013.

AN
ACT

            to provide for compulsory iodization of salt, in the Province.  


           WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for compulsory iodization of Preamble.
edible salt to prevent the Iodine deficiency disorder in the people and for the matters ancillary thereto.

           It is hereby enacted as follows:-    
1.                  (1) This Act may be called the Sindh Compulsory Iodization of Salt Short title, 
Act, 2013.     extent and   commencement.
(2)    It shall extend to the whole of the Province of Sindh.

(3)    It shall come into force at once.

2.                  In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or Definitions.
context -
(a)     “distributor” includes a person dealing with the business of iodized salt and may include wholesaler and retailer;

(b)     “edible salt” means the salt used for human and animal consumption, and includes table salt;

(c)     “Government” means the Government of Sindh;

(d)     “iodine deficiency disorders” include all biochemical and clinical manifestations of disease resulting from iodine deficiency;

(e)     “Inspector” means an Inspector appointed under this Act;

(f)      “labeling” includes all label and other written, printed or graphic matter on a package, bag or pouch of iodized salt and may include the nutrient composition of salt, processing and expiry dates, amount of potassium iodate present at the time of fortifying salt and address of the processing unit;

(g)     “manufacture” means a person, company, corporation or other entity engaged or involved in the business of producing, processing, filling and  packing of edible salt;’

(h)     “misbranded” means the iodized salt which is an imitation of other registered brand intended to deceive or cheat the customers or is not correctly labeled to indicate its true characters;

(i)      “package, bag and pouch” includes the polyethylene bag which is used for storing and labeling of iodized salt;

(j)      “premises” means a place where salt is received, processed, stored and delivered to wholesalers, distributors, retailers and customers;

(k)     “Universal Salt Iodization” means all food grade iodized salt whether processed, transported or imported for human and animal consumption.

3.                  (1) The manufacturer, processor and importer of iodized salt shall-      Processing and
(i)          process iodized salt which shall contain atleast thirty parts import of iodized per million (30 ppm) or the recommended amount of salt. iodine;

(ii)         follow personal hygiene, workers safety protocol and quantity assurance practices in salt processing units;

(iii)        ensure that all iodized salt processed or imported from outside shall conform to food standards code established by the Pakistan Standards Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) and Codex Alimentarius Commission;

(iv)        ensure that salt to be consumed is iodized properly and that package, bag and pouch which contains iodized salt is properly labeled with salt composition, processing and expiry dates, retail price and address of the processing units;

(v)         ensure that iodized salt which has reached the expiry date shall not be sold, marketed or distributed;

(vi)        ensure that imported iodized salt meets the national food standards established and recommended by Government; and

(vii)      ensure that imported iodized salt is properly packed, labeled and has processing and expiry date on the packages;

(2)    No salt processors, distributors, dealers, importer shall refuse to provide salt samples to an Inspector for iodine spot test or to provide or sell salt samples to an Inspector for a subsequent analysis in the laboratory for quantitative determination of iodine in the salt samples.

4.                  (1) No person shall process, import, store or distribute iodized Licence for
salt in places unless a license for such a business is granted by processing and
Government.            storage of iodized           salt.
(2)    The license issued by Government may be renewed annually with such fee as may be prescribed.

5.                  (1) No person shall sell un-iodized salt to customers and all Ban on sale, other public eating places where salt is to be used. import, sub      standard and
(2)    No person shall import an un-iodized salt. import of iodized
          salt, 
(3)    No person shall process, store, sell or offer to sell or import any iodized salt which is sub-standard in terms of its quality, packaging, composition or level of iodine content recommended by Government.
 
(4)    No person shall sale, add or mix any material or substance which may change the physical and chemical characteristics as well as change the weight and volume of iodized salt which may render it injurious to human and animal health.
6.                  No person shall process, store, sell or offer to sell or import Ban on subiodized salt which is misbranded or mislabeled or which is not to standard and
of the nature, substance or quantity which it purports to be.   import of iodized            salt.
7.                  (1) No salt processors, distributors or retailers shall give any Ban on salt sort of false warranty about the quality and quantity of iodized adulteration. salt to customers.

(2)    No person shall store or dump iodized salt in open air and sunlight.

8.                  (1) Government may appoint Inspectors and such other staff for the Appointment of
purpose as may be prescribed.      Inspectors and      their functions.
(2)    The powers and functions of the Inspectors shall be –
(i)          to inspect salt processing units, premises, stores, hotel, restaurants and other recreation places where salt is processed, packed, labeled, stored, sold and served and collection of salt samples for iodine spot test to be under taken for quantitative determination of iodine in salt samples; and
(ii)         to seize the quantity of salt which does not contain the required amount of iodine or has sub-standard packing or is suspected to be adulterated and keep it in a safe custody or handover to the local authority or destroy it after its verification; 

9.                  Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of this Act, shall Penalties.
be dealt with one or more of the following penalties:- 
(i)             the license issued to a person concerned may be cancelled or suspended by the authority granting the license;
(ii)           the renewal of the license may be refused at any time by the authority;
(iii)          the licensee, processor, distributor, wholesaler and retailer shall be punished with fine which may extend to rupees one hundred thousand depending upon  the severity of the offence;
(iv)          repeating an offence or trying to excite others for contraventions or creating law and order situation shall be punished with fine which may extend to rupees fifty thousand;
(v)           in case of any conviction, the Magistrate may order the confiscation or disposing of the seized salt or imported consignment of stored salt in the premises.
10.                No court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under Cognizance of this Act except on a report in writing by an officer authorized by offence.
Government in this behalf.
          Trial of offences.
11.                The offences under this Act shall be triable by a Magistrate of First Class.

12.                Government may make rules for carrying out the purposes Powers to make of this Act.          rules.

13.                No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against Indemnity.
any person for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be  done under this Act.                    ___________________________                                                  BY ORDER OF THE SPEAKER 
                                           PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY OF SINDH

                                                       G.M.UMAR FAROOQ
                                                       ACTING SECRETARY
                                           PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY OF SINDH


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