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{
    "id": 1104415,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1104415/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 165,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Tigania West, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. John Mutunga",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13495,
        "legal_name": "John Kanyuithia Mutunga",
        "slug": "john-kanyuithia-mutunga"
    },
    "content": "As a Member of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, I can state that we had an opportunity to interrogate this Bill with respect to asking ourselves the basic question: should we support passage of this Bill as it is, or recommend separation of food and drugs? I will give specific reasons why we should separate food from drugs. As a Committee, we examined the Bill at length and particularly looked at clauses touching on food. We looked at the way they are seated within the Bill and the provisions proposed in it. There are certain concerns which as a Committee, we would wish to bring to the attention of this House even as we make a decision then we make an informed decision. The philosophy of control of medicines is remarkably very different from that of the food. As an honourable Member has stated, food is from the farm to the folk. There are many processes and institutions that are involved. It is actually what we are calling multi-institutional and multi-sectoral in terms of the handling. There are certain ways which we need to look at in terms of the control of these two, food and drugs. I would like to highlight, specifically, drugs. When it comes to medicine, approval and registration of the product is necessary for the medicine. Approval and registration of food is not necessary. It is important to note that the registration for food is not necessary. We do not need an institution to regulate registration of food. There is also huge and intensive efficacy trials of medicines before they are authorised and released for use. There is nothing like that required for food. Food is produced. As long as it is safe for consumption and as long as it has the right ingredients or the right provisions in terms of minerals and other provisions, then it is given for people to eat. The third issue is that each product is approved for a specific disease. Each medical product is approved for a specific disease or a group of diseases that are related in terms of medicine. On the other hand, food is basically tied to the natural metabolism of the body. It responds to the functional aspects of the body – the physiology of the body. We eat so that we can be able to grow and to basically have the energy to play and do other things. The fourth issue that is important and glaring is that reporting of the side effects is mandatory for medicine. On the other hand, when it comes to food, reporting of allerginicity or rather the allergies that could be found in food and the intolerance levels is what is required. So there is a clear difference between the two. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}