India
India to ban sale of non-iodised salt for human consumption
By Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India
Oct 24, 2005, 14:01

The Indian Government has decided that salt meant for human consumption has to be iodised. Sale of non-iodised salt for human consumption is to be banned. A revised notification in this regard has been drafted by the Health Ministry and has been sent to Law Ministry for vetting. When the draft is approved, the notification will come into force. Non-iodised salt consumption by humans has been causing a number of disorders including mental retardation and physical growth. Iodine deficiency is the world�s leading cause of preventable mental retardation. No state in the country is free from Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD).

In a message on the occasion of �Global Iodine Deficiency Disorders Prevention Day� on Friday, October 21, 2005 the Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr.Anbumani Ramadoss said the Government is committed to achieve a 10 per cent reduction in IDD in the country by 2010. Dr.Ramadoss said, the national programme on IDD control has been geared up to achieve the goal by the targeted time. Since, the deficiency could affect humans from the foetal stage itself, it directly has a bearing on human resource development and in the process national productivity. He called for creating awareness among the people about the consequences of this deficiency.

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