Wilson Chipangura, Guest Reporter
HARARE – Ministry of Health and Child Care, has strengthened its stance on the implementation of statutory instrument 120 of 2016 on food and food standards (food fortification regulations) in Zimbabwe.
A statement from the ministry seen by RosGwen24 dated 23rd August 2021 outlines the measures which must be taken by all players to ensure food chain quality is guaranteed in the country from producer, supplier or retailers.
In a public notice to “all manufacturers/producers/distributors of fortified food products: edible vegetable oil, wheat flour, maize meal, sugar and salt” the Health ministry called for all the mentioned parties to comply with the SI 120 of 2016.
“Notice is hereby given by the Ministry of Health and Child Care to remind all commercial producers and importers of edible vegetable oil, wheat flour, maize flour, sugar and salt that SI 120 OF 2016: FOOD AND FOOD STANDARDS (FOOD FORTIFICATION REGULATIONS, 2016) is still in effect.
“The Food Fortification Regulations of 2016 (SI 120 of 2016) states that all edible vegetable oil, wheat flour, maize flour, sugar and salt commercially produced or imported should be MANDATORILY FORTIFIED with micro-nutrients as prescribed in the relevant Zimbabwe food fortification standards.
“This is public health measure to prevent malnutrition due to micro-nutrient deficiencies among the Zimbabwean population.
“In this regard, manufacturers and importers of the products specified above are urged to comply with the SI unless they have been granted an exemption by the Secretary of Health and Child Care as specified in the SI.
“Failure to comply will result in Government taking relevant action including removing products that fail to comply with the standards from the market,” the ministry said in a statement.
