Bunge defends TFNC registration
DODOMA: MEMBERS of Parliament have advised the government to reverse its decision to deregister the Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre (TFNC) due to its crucial role in overseeing nutrition issues in the country.
The lawmakers also resolved that the government should reinstate the responsibility of regulating food and cosmetics to the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA).
The government amended the Tanzania Food, Drugs and Cosmetics Act and shifted the responsibilities of regulating food and cosmetics which was previously undertaken by the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA) to the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS).
Tabling a report of activities undertaken by the Parliamentary Committee on Health and HIV/ AIDS in 2023, Chairman Mr Stanslaus Nyongo said that TFNC was formed to assist the government in addressing the challenge of malnutrition in society and to have a national information system for nutrition research.
“Since the government through the Treasury Registrar has announced its decision to deregister TFNC, the act will cause the country to lack a vital entity that focuses on nutrition research, the situation may lead to having a society without good nutrition the MPs resolve that the government should not deregister the entity,” he said.
He further said that the National Assembly advises the government to conduct thorough research on causes causing chronic stunted growth facing food basket regions including Iringa, Njombe and Rukwa.
Nyongo said the origin of the establishment of the nutrition entity was to create a specific national body to bring together extension workers and scientists, as well as national leaders in the fight against malnutrition in the country.
Nyongo said that among the responsibilities of TFNC was to plan and initiate food and nutrition programme, to undertake review and revision of food and nutrition programmes; carry out research in matters relating to food and nutrition and provide training on all issues related to food and nutrition to various institutions and society in general.
He said other responsibilities include advising the government, the schools and other public organisations on matters relating to food and nutrition, stimulating and promoting, amongst the people an awareness of the importance of a balanced diet and the dangers of malnutrition and gaining public confidence in the methods suggested by the centre for the correction or avoidance of malnutrition;
“ In December last year, the government through the Treasury Registrar announced to have revoked registration of TFNC. The committee is of the view that the reregistration of this institution may lead the country to lack an important entity that focuses on nutrition research and this may also instigate an increase in Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs),” Nyongo said.
On TMDA he said the National Assembly has advised the government to reinstate the responsibility of regulating food and cosmetics to TMDA because food, drugs, and cosmetics correlate thus taking responsibility for TBS which does not deal with health issues affects the idea of regulation.
He said the in 2022/2023 the authority registered 1,263 health commodities compared to 1,228 health commodities registered in 2021/22, which is equivalent to an increase of 35 per cent of the commodities registered in 2021/2022.
