KATHMANDU, July 24: The Supreme Court (SC) has issued an interim order directing the government not to enforce the Iodized Salt (Production and Distribution) Act, 1998.
A joint bench of Justices Til Prasad Shrestha and Mahesh Sharma Paudel issued the order on July 14, stating that the Act should not be implemented from July 17 as announced.
The court observed that although the Act was passed nearly 25 years ago, the government has yet to introduce the necessary regulations required for its enforcement.
Pregnant women deprived of iodized salt in Bajhang
The order also noted that implementing the law without proper preparation could disrupt the supply and distribution of iodized salt, which is directly linked to public health and livelihoods. Similar concerns had been raised in previous cases as well.
“It does not appear that immediate enforcement of the Act would cause irreparable harm if delayed. Since this issue is better resolved after a final hearing of the writ petition, the government must not enforce the notice published in the Nepal Gazette to implement the Act from July 17,” the order said.
The court emphasized that since no regulations have been issued to support the enforcement of the Act, it cannot go into effect for now.
Advocate Shilat Maharjan had filed the petition, arguing that the 25-year-old Act would allow private companies to import and distribute iodized salt, potentially leading to serious long-term health consequences. He demanded the Act be scrapped altogether.
