on the Prevention of Diseases Caused by a Deficiency of Iodine, other Micronutrients and Vitamins

LAW OF GEORGIA

ON THE PREVENTION OF DISEASES CAUSED BY A DEFICIENCY OF IODINE, OTHER MICRONUTRIENTS AND VITAMINS

The purpose of this Law is to establish conditions that contribute to the prevention of diseases caused by a deficiency of iodine, other micronutrients and vitamins.

Chapter I - General Provisions

Article 1 - Legislation of Georgia on the prevention of diseases caused by a deficiency of iodine, other micronutrients and vitamins

The legislation of Georgia on the prevention of diseases caused by a deficiency of iodine, other micronutrients and vitamins is based on the Constitution of Georgia, treaties and international agreements, and comprises this Law, the Law of Georgia on Health Care and other legislative and subordinate normative acts.

Article 2 - Definition of terms

The terms used herein have the following meanings:

a) diseases caused by a deficiency of iodine, other micronutrients and vitamins – the pathological state of an organism due to an insufficient amount of iodine, other micronutrients and vitamins in the organism;

b) the prevention of diseases caused by a deficiency of iodine, other micronutrients and vitamins – a system of measures developed by the State which is aimed at preventing diseases caused by a deficiency of iodine, other micronutrients and vitamins;

c) food fortification – the enrichment of food products by adding micronutrients and vitamins thereto in order to prevent diseases caused by a deficiency of micronutrients and vitamins;

d) iodised salt – salt enriched with iodine;

c) fortificants– additives used for food fortification;

d) re-iodisation – the repeated iodisation of iodised salt or other fortified food products.

Article 3 - Fundamental principles for the prevention of diseases caused by a deficiency of iodine, other micronutrients and vitamins

The fundamental principles for the prevention of diseases caused by a deficiency of iodine, other micronutrients and vitamins are:

a) the development of a national policy for food fortification and the contribution to the implementation of relevant programmes;

b) the development of national standards for imports into Georgia, and for the production and sale of iodised salt and other fortified food products in Georgia;

c) the enhancement of state supervision over imports into Georgia, and the production and sale of iodised salt and other fortified food products in Georgia, and over inter-agency coordination with regard to such matters;

d) the determination of the rights and duties of state authorities and natural and legal persons in order to ensure compliance with national standards of imports into Georgia, and of the production and sale of iodised salt and other fortified food products in Georgia;

e) the facilitation of the co-participation of the population and public and international organisations in the implementation of the national policy of food fortification.

Chapter II - National Standards for Imports into Georgia, and the Production and Sale of Iodised Salt and Other Fortified Food Products in Georgia

Article 4 - Requirements with regard to iodised salt and other fortified food products

1. Iodised salt and other fortified food products (imported into and produced in Georgia) shall comply with national standards.

2. It shall not be permitted to sell non-iodised salt in retail outlets of Georgia, except for the cases provided for by Article 5(1) of this Law.

3. Salt for human and animal consumption shall be iodised in accordance with national standards.

Law of Georgia No 5123 of 13 October 2011 - website, 19.10.2011

Article 5 - Import into and sale of non-iodised salt in Georgia

1. Non-iodised salt may be sold in Georgia:

a) for medical purposes;

b) for technical purposes, and for the purposes of manufacturing non-food products.

2. Non-iodised salt may be imported for medical purposes on the basis of a permit issued by the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, and by the Revenue Service, a legal ­entity under public law under the auspices of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia.

3. Non-iodised salt may be sold for medical purposes only through a pharmacy chain.

Law of Georgia No 5123 of 13 October 2011 - website, 19.10.2011

Article 6 - (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 3806 of 12 November 2010 - LHG I, No 66, 3.12.2010, Art.414

Law of Georgia No 5123 of 13 October 2011 - website, 19.10.2011

Article 7 - Requirements with regard to the pre-packaging, packaging, marking, transportation and storage of iodised salt and other fortified food products

The pre-packaging, packaging, marking, transportation and storage of iodised salt and other fortified food products shall comply with national standards.

Article 8 - Safety and quality assurance of iodised salt and other fortified food products

1. Natural and legal persons who import, produce and sell iodised salt and fortified food products shall be responsible to consumers for ensuring the safety and quality of iodised salt and other fortified food products in accordance with national standards.

2. Information on iodised salt and other fortified food products shall be provided to the population under the procedure prescribed by the Product Safety and Free Movement Code.

3. It shall not be permitted to sell expired iodised salt and other fortified food products and they shall be removed from the distribution network.

Law of Georgia No 6158 of 8 May 2012 - website, 25.5.2012

Chapter III - Control

Article 9 - Control over the compliance of iodised salt and other fortified food products with national standards

The Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia, and a relevant Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia shall, within their authority, exercise control over the compliance of iodised salt and other fortified food products with national standards.

Law of Georgia No 4271 of 29 December 2006 - LHG I, No 51, 31.12.2006, Art. 430

Chapter IV - Liability of Natural and Legal Persons for Violation of this Law

Article 10 - Liability for violation of this Law

Liability for violation of this Law shall be determined by the legislation of Georgia.

Chapter V - Transitional Provisions

Article 11 - Measures related to the entry into force of this Law

1. The following normative acts shall be issued within three months after the entry into force of this Law:

a) an order of the Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia on ' the List of Food Products Subject to Fortification';

b) an order of the Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia on 'Measures Required for the Import and Sale of Iodised Salt for Medical Purposes';

c) a joint order of the Ministers of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia, and of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia on ' the Procedure for Recycling, Re-iodising, Using for Technical Purposes and on the Disposal of Expired Iodised Salt and Other Fortified Food Products';

d) a joint order of the Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia and of the Minister of Agriculture of Georgia on 'the Content of Fortificants in Iodised Salt and Other Food Products and Methods of Fortification'.

2. A legal entity under public law called the Georgian National Agency for Standards and Metrology shall be assigned to develop and approve national standards for the pre-packaging, packaging, marking, transportation and storage of iodised salt for human and animal consumption.

3. A legal entity under public law called the Georgian National Agency for Standards and Metrology shall be assigned to develop and approve national standards for products (imported into and produced in Georgia) subject to fortification in accordance with the order of the Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia on 'The List of Food Products Subject to Fortification'.

Chapter VI - Final Provision

Article 12 - Entry into force of the Law

This Law shall enter into force after six months of its promulgation.

President of Georgia                                                                                                             M. Saakashvili

Tbilisi,

25 February 2005

No 1054-Iს