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Food and Nutrition Act, No. 3 of 2020

Country/Territory
Zambia
Document type
Legislation
Date
2020
Source
FAO, FAOLEX
Long title
An Act to provide for the implementation of a national food and nutrition programme; continue the existence of theNational Food and Nutrition Commission and re-define its functions; establish the Board of the Commission and define its functions; re-constitute the Board of the Commission and re-define its functions; establish the Food and Nutrition Coordinating Committee and provide for its functions; repeal and replace the National Food and Nutrition Commission Act, 1967; and provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.
Subject
Food & nutrition
Keyword
Basic legislation Authorization/permit Capacity building Certification Food quality control/food safety Food security Inspection Registration Research Right to food Social protection Human rights Gender
Geographical area
Africa, Eastern Africa, Landlocked Developing Nations, Least Developed Countries
Abstract

This Act repeals and replaces the National Food and Nutrition Commission Act of 1967. The National Food and Nutrition Commission established under the 1967 Act is continued with a legal personality status. The functions of the Commission under the Act include, to; register nutritionists; formulate the national food and nutrition programme in the country; carry out research on food and nutrition matters; issue and facilitate the implementation of guidelines for the purposes of the Act; coordinate, monitor and evaluate food and nutrition programmes in order to improve delivery and access to food and nutrition services; advocate for good nutrition practices among the population; promote local nutritious foods; establish and maintain a national food and nutrition information system, among others. The Act provides for the Board, and its constitution, functions and administration. The Commission may appoint an authorized officer for the purposes of ensuring compliance with the Act. Such officer shall have powers to enter and search an institution, examine a document or an article found on the premises for the purposes of inspection; assess the adequacy of diets provided in an institution, etc. The Act prohibits the operation of nutrition groups without valid certificates of registration. As such, the Act provides for the procedure for the application of registration of nutrition groups and the obtaining of certificates of registration. The Act sets up a Coordinating Committee responsible for coordination of the multi-sectoral response to national food and nutrition programme and provides for the membership to represent permanent secretaries of health, agriculture, community development, fisheries and livestock, gender, among others. The Committee is charged with implementing the national food and nutrition programme through the Commission in an integrated manner so as to ensure food and nutrition security by maintaining minimum dietary needs of persons or communities, promote a person’s right to food and nutrition, in particular vulnerable people (including children under 5 years of age, adolescents, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers), promote and strengthen coordinated planning and programming across various sectors and geographical convergence of multi-sectoral interventions, prioritize food and nutritional security in national and sector plans, budgets and policies, and implement regional and international treaties, agreements, protocols and declarations relating to food and nutrition to which the Republic is a State party.

Full text
English