It is necessary to proceed with the bill for the registration of nutritionists, The Cyprus Association of Dietitians and Nutritionists (CBDI) said in a statement aimed at refuting "inaccuracies and unsubstantiated allegations about the Association's attempted attempt to amend the Law on the Registration of Food Scientists and Dietitians," it said.
According to the SCF, the current legislation "enshrines the dietitian, the clinical dietitian, the sports dietitian, and other specializations of the dietitian, but unfortunately not the nutritionist or his or her specializations."
The statement explains that the amendment's main aim is to secure, among other things, nutritionists and defend their rights through a bill submitted by the Ministry of Health to the House Health Committee. It underlines "that the bill was also before the plenary session of the Parliament in 2011, but unfortunately third party interventions did not allow it."
As SIDIKY stresses, the adoption of the bill is considered necessary "for the modernization of the legislation, but also for the maintenance of the high level of services of these professions".
It clarifies that those who hold a degree in Dietetics or Nutrition or a Master's degree with an approved internship in Clinical Dietetics or a Master's degree in Clinical Nutrition are admitted to its ranks. It stresses, however, that holders of a degree in Nutrition Science are not accepted, as "a person who has taken only a few courses in dietetics/nutrition as part of his/her degree cannot be allowed to practise as a Dietitian/Nutritionist", the statement said.
SIDIKY argues that the existing legislative gap also violates the rights of society, "since it enables anyone to practice the profession of nutritionist, putting public health at risk" and good Epi. On our part, we have incorporated all the changes/modifications suggested to us by the Ministry of Health and the European and International Dietary Guidelines, as well as taking into account the various recommendations of the various parliamentary health committees from 2003 to date," he added.
It concludes that the amendment does not prohibit nutritionists from giving advice individually and/or to groups of healthy individuals.
Source: CNA
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