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Project Law No.237: policies for the promotion of adequate nutrition and a healthy life style in Public Schools in the Republic of Panama
By AFRA Health & Compliance Department: Alfredo Berguido & Marissa Lasso de la Vega F.
The project establishes that the government authorities involved in the promotion of adequate nutrition and a healthy life style in public elementary and middle schools will be (i) the Ministry of Education, (ii) the Ministry of Health, (iii) the Consumer Protection Authority and (iv) the Municipality Authorities. The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health must insure compliance – by evaluations and personal visits - of the nutritional offer in school kiosks and cafeterias.
Schools kiosks and cafeterias will have 3-month deadline after an evaluation conducted by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education to comply with changes established in the evaluations. If the kiosks and cafeterias do not comply, their owner will be penalized. These penalties will be established in a later regulation.
The new Law also establishes that the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and the Public Healthcare Insurance Institution (Caja de Seguro Social) will conduct nutritional evaluations of the student at public schools. Furthermore, these institutions will create programs to promote a Healthy Lifestyle and the non-discrimination of people with bad nutrition and unhealthy lifestyles, including educational campaigns regarding anorexia, bulimia and obesity.
According to the Law the Ministry of Education will publish a list of “Healthy Foods” meant to incentivize parents to include them in their children’s lunchboxes and meals.
The Ministry of Education must coordinate with local universities with Nutrition careers, in order for students of these careers to help with the prevention of obesity and bad nutrition in Public Schools.
The Ministry of Health will be responsible for overlooking the publicity, promotion and sponsorship of commercial foods in Public Schools.
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