Punjab drafts Food Fortification Bill 2026: Fortification of flour, ghee, oil mandatory to address malnutrition

LAHORE: The Punjab government has prepared the draft of Punjab Food Fortification Bill 2026, proposing mandatory fortification of flour, ghee, cooking oil and salt to address malnutrition and stunting among children and nutritional deficiencies among women.

Provincial Minister for Food Safety and Consumer Protection, Salma Butt, said the proposed legislation had been prepared for approval on the directions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

She was speaking at a meeting chaired by her and attended by Secretary of Food Safety,Dr, Kiran Khurshid, Director General of Food Safey, Anwar Jappa, Director General of Punjab Food Authority, Raja Mansoor and other senior officials.

The provincial minister said 27.3 per cent of children under five in Punjab suffered from stunted growth.

However, she said, the rate had declined from 31.5 per cent in 2017 to 27.3 per cent in 2024 following government measures.

She added that iron and zinc deficiencies among women aged 15 to 49 had also reached alarming levels, prompting the government to introduce the proposed legislation. Under the draft bill, fortification of flour, ghee, cooking oil and salt would be mandatory.

Manufacturers failing to register in violation of the Food Authority Act would face up to three months in prison and a fine of up to Rs1 million, Salma Butt said.

She said obstructing food safety officers in the performance of their duties or failing to comply with food fortification requirements could result in imprisonment of up to six months and a fine of up to Rs2 million.

The minister added that daily internal checks, rapid testing and quality assurance would be mandatory for all manufacturers and importers.

She said strict laboratory testing and production checks would also be introduced to maintain the quality of micronutrient premixes used in food production. Salma Butt said full cooperation with food safety officers and the provision of accurate information would be a legal responsibility of all relevant organisations to help ensure a healthy Punjab.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026