Minister says gazette notification coming soon
Colour code for soft drinks:
Health and Indigenous Medicine Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said he would introduce a colour code for confectioneries and sweets in the local market to control the steadily increasing Non Communicable Diseases (NCDS).
Minister says gazette notification coming soon
He held a discussion with the Lanka Confectionery Industry Association this week and informed the necessity to introduce a colour code to confectionery products and sweets indicating the content of sugar and salt in them.
“I have introduced a colour code for soft drinks and increased tax up to 90% for cigarettes. In addition we are conducting a mega anti smoking and anti-tobacco campaign to save our people from smoking related diseases like lung cancer, respiratory track ailments and oral cancer,” Minister Senaratne said.
He added that the relevant gazette notification indicating the maximum amount of sugar and salt permitted for each variety of confectioneries and sweets will be released shortly.
Minister Senaratne said he was planning to open NCD units at each Ministry to arrest the sharp increase of NCDS in the country as the NCDS had become a major health issue in the country. These units could be used for exercises, counselling, medical assistance and consultation, for public servants to maintain physical fitness.the NCD units are to set up at Ministries as a pilot project.
Non-communicable - or chronic - diseases are diseases of long duration and generally slow progression.the four main types of non-communicable diseases are cardiovascular diseases (like heart attacks and stroke), cancer, chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructed pulmonary disease and asthma) and diabetes, he said.
Dr. Mahipala said NCDS, are by far the leading cause of death in the world, representing 63% of all annual deaths.the NCDS kill more than 36 million people each year. Some 80% of all NCD deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
Health Ministry Secretary Anura Jayawickrama and DGHS, Dr. Palitha Mahipala were present at the meeting.