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Supreme Court extends ban on non-iodized salt sale

  •   Sat, Jul 09 2011 10:49:02 PM

New Delhi, July 9 (IANS) The Supreme Court has extended by six more months the ban on sale of non-iodised salt in the country and asked the government to take legislative or other steps to impose curbs of more permanent nature.

"We direct the continuation of the ban contained in Rule 44-I (of Prevention of Food Adulteration Act) for a period of six months" the apex court bench of Justice R.V. Raveendran and Justice B. Sudershan Reddy (who has now retired) said in their recent judgment.

The bench held that the ban on the sale of non-iodized salt for human consumption under the provisions of the Prevention of food Adulteration Act was ultra vires but extended it by six months in the interest of the public health.

Justice Raveendran said: "The central government may within that period review the compulsory iodization programme and if it decides to continue, may introduce appropriate legislative or other measures. It is needless to say that if it fails to take any action within the expiry of six months from today, Rule 44-I shall cease to operate."

The apex court verdict came in the wake of a batch of petitions by several NGOs.
  

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Comment on this article

  • P Venu, Kakinada

    Thu, Jul 14 2011

    Even though the Supreme Court has annulled the ban on non-iodised salt on legal grounds, there are equally compelling grounds for lifting this ban on pragmatic considerations. The effects of the ban, in its implementation, have been negative. Iodised salt looks, smells and tastes exactly like common salt. However, available testing method and procedure is unscientific and non-specific. At the production centres, the salt officers are incapable of ensuring compliance of the ban.

    Equally disquieting is the prevalent myth, even among those educated public, that only branded refined salt is iodised. Any type of salt, crystal, crushed, powder etc, could be iodised without too much of an expense. Branded consumer packs are artificially high-priced and those refined are less of a natural product. Its sodium content has been enhanced by leaching out calcium and magnesium contents. It is a moot question whether this is harmless product, especially for those who are victims of hyper-tension.

    This writer is Assistant Salt Commissioner, Kakinada. Views expressed are personal.

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