Health Legislation

This Act provides for the efficient and comprehensive regulation and control of food, drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, herbal drugs and poisons and repeals the Food (Control of Quality) Act, 1978, the Pharmaceuticals and Poisons Act, 1978, and provides for related matters.

The Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania was adopted in 1977 and amended in 2005. The Constitution is the supreme law of the country and establishes the state principles, regulates the separation of powers, establishes key government structures and their mandates, establishes rights, etc. The Constitution consists of 152 articles that are organized into ten chapters that are supplemented by two schedules.

This Act consolidates the law relating to narcotic drugs, makes provision for the control and regulation of operations relating to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances; provides for the forfeiture of property derived from or used in illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances; provides for the prevention of illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and implements the provisions of the International Convention on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.

This Act establishes the Medical Stores Department for the procurement, storage and distribution of medical supplies and provides for other matters connected or incidental to the establishment and management of the department.

This Act repeals the provisions of the Food and Drugs Ordinance which relates to food; repeals the Meat Hygiene Ordinance, and provides for the more efficient control of the food industry.