Iodized salt act enforced after 26 years
The Act, originally published in the Nepal Gazette on Magh 1, 2055, had remained inactive due to the lack of formal implementation through a gazette notification.
KATHMANDU: The Government of Nepal has officially enforced the Iodized Salt Production and Distribution Act, 26 years after its formulation in 1998 (BS 2055).
The Act, originally published in the Nepal Gazette on Magh 1, 2055, had remained inactive due to the lack of formal implementation through a gazette notification.
The law was finally activated following the Cabinet meeting on Baisakh 2, where a proposal submitted by Minister of Health and Population Pradeep Paudel was approved.
The decision includes the publication of an official notice in the gazette, with the law set to come into full effect from Shrawan 1 this year.
With the Act now in force, the Ministry of Health has a legal foundation to address the excessive iodine levels found in children, which had previously caused significant health issues.
According to Lilabikram Thapa, Chief of the Nutrition Section under the Department of Health Services, past research showed that existing standards led to an oversupply of iodine in children, resulting in conditions such as high blood pressure and thyroid problems.
A micronutrient survey conducted in 2016 by the Ministry found iodine levels of 314 micrograms per liter in the urine of children aged 6 to 9, exceeding the recommended 300 micrograms. Medical experts have linked such excessive iodine intake to various health complications.
Due to the lack of gazette notification, the government had been unable to draft regulations or directives required for effective implementation and monitoring.
Ministry spokesperson Dr. Prakash Budhathoki noted that this legal gap had hindered efforts to address the issue despite practical enforcement of the standards.
“Now that the legal framework is in place, it will be easier for the Ministry of Health to collaborate with the Ministries of Agriculture and Prosperity to revise standards and take necessary actions,” he said.
The activation of this long-standing law marks a significant milestone in Nepal’s public health and nutrition sector.
