The Supreme Court of Nepal has issued an interim order halting the implementation of the Iodized Salt (Production and Distribution) Act, 2055 BS (1998 AD). A joint bench of Justices Til Prasad Shrestha and Mahesh Sharma Paudel issued the order on Asar 30 (July 14), instructing the government not to enforce the Act from Shrawan 1 (July 16) as previously planned. The court noted that although the Act was passed nearly 25 years ago, the government has yet to draft and implement the necessary regulations required for its execution.
The justices expressed concern that enforcing the Act without adequate preparation could disrupt the supply and distribution of iodized salt, directly affecting public health and livelihoods. The order further stated that delaying implementation would not cause any irreversible harm and that the matter should be resolved during the final hearing of the case. Advocate Shilat Maharjan, who filed the petition, argued that reviving the Act would open the door for private sector involvement in the import and distribution of iodized salt, potentially posing long-term risks to public health.
As a result, the court ordered the government not to implement the notice published in the Nepal Gazette regarding the Act’s enforcement until a final verdict is issued.
