Food fortification and salt iodisation regulations 2006.

This document outlines The Gambia's Food Fortification and Salt Iodisation Regulations of 2006, a subsidiary legislation under the Food Act, 2005. The regulations establish a comprehensive legal framework to mandate and control the fortification of specific foods and the universal iodisation of salt for human and animal consumption to improve public health and nutrition.
The rules apply to all entities involved in the food and salt industries (importers, manufacturers, distributors, retailers). Operating without a valid license is prohibited.
The text empowers the Secretary of State (Part II) to set fortification requirements for specific foods. It details obligations for handling, packaging, storage, and transport to preserve food quality and safety. Non-compliant food can be confiscated, re-conditioned, or destroyed.
Salt Iodisation (Part III) mandates that all food-grade salt must be iodised according to strict technical specifications detailed in a Schedule. It requires registration of salt producers, sets rules for storage and distribution (e.g., "first in, first out"), and establishes a 36-month expiration date for iodised salt.
The quality Assurance and the Monitoring places a duty on the National Nutrition Agency (the "Agency") to monitor compliance, conduct public awareness campaigns, and provide training. Manufacturers must implement internal quality control procedures, including regular testing of iodine levels. The technical standards schedule provides detailed specifications for iodised salt, including: iodine levels, which are required to be at specific concentration ranges at production, import, and retail levels (e.g., 30-50 ppm at production); purity and contaminants, such as moisture, impurities, and harmful substances like lead, arsenic, and cadmium, for which maximum allowable levels are set; specific packaging materials and clear labeling, with the words "IODISED SALT," manufacturer details, manufacture/expiry dates, and storage instructions are mandatory.
A person who contravenes any provision of these regulations commits an offence, punishable upon conviction by a fine of not less than twenty thousand dalasis, imprisonment for up to two years, or both.
In essence, this regulation is a public health policy instrument designed to combat micronutrient deficiencies through compulsory food fortification and universal salt iodisation, backed by a system of licensing, monitoring, and significant penalties for non-compliance.