On March 20, the National Administration Committee of Myanmar officially promulgated the revised National Food Law (2024 Edition), which aims to further strengthen food safety management and increase penalties for food-related violations to protect public health and life safety.
ACCORDING TO THE NEWLY AMENDED NATIONAL FOOD LAW, REGULATIONS 22 (A) TO (G) PROVIDE THAT OFFENDERS WILL FACE MORE SEVERE CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR ANY FOOD-RELATED OFFENCES. The maximum sentence has been increased from 3 years to 10 years, and the fine has been significantly increased from a maximum of 300,000 kyats to a minimum of 300,000 kyats to a maximum of 3 million kyats. This adjustment significantly increases the cost of violating the law, reflecting the high priority that the Myanmar government attaches to food safety issues.
In addition, the new law also stipulates that offenders for food-related offences in contravention of Regulation 22(H) or (I) will be sentenced to a minimum of 1 year in prison or face a fine of up to 500,000 kyats, or both.
In addition to the adjustment of the sentence term, the newly revised national food law also significantly increases the amount of fines. For example, the fine under Regulation 30 has been increased from 100,000 to 300,000 kyats to 300,000 kyats to 3 million kyats, and the penalty under Regulation 31 has been changed from three years' imprisonment and a fine of 100,000 kyats to 300,000 kyats or both, to a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment or a fine of 300,000 to 3 million kyats.
The revision of Myanmar's national food law is a positive response to the current food safety situation and a strong protection for public health rights. By increasing penalties and increasing the cost of violations, it is expected to effectively curb the occurrence of food safety violations and promote the healthy development of the food industry. At the same time, it also reminds the majority of food producers and operators to strictly abide by laws and regulations, operate in good faith, ensure food safety, and jointly maintain social harmony and stability.