Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne has decided to introduce the traffic light system for solid food from April 1, Health Ministry spokesman said.
According to the spokesman, the traffic light system will be introduced from April 01st for all solid, semi solid and liquid food in order to control the high sugar level that can be contained in them. Minister Senaratne instructed the Deputy Director General (Environmental and Food Health) Dr. Lakshman Gamlath to implement the rule from April 01st.
A special discussion was held at the Health Ministry in connection with introducing the new law. From April 01st onward, all solid, semi solid and liquid food manufacturers should include a special colour indicator in the main food label of their products if it contains high concentration of sugar, salt or fat, he said.
All manufacturers were educated on the issue in last year and the same traffic light system has already been introduced for all sweetened drinks available in the market. The system directly help to reduce the Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) burden in the country which is rapidly increasing, he added.