Magofna seeks regulation of lime for betelnut

Underscoring the need to protect the people until concrete studies are conducted pertaining to the use of afok or bweesch (lime) in betelnut chewing, and its link to oral cancer, Sen. Corina L. Magofna (Ind-Saipan) has introduced a bill that will regulate such substance under the Pure Food and Drug Control Act.

Magofna stated in Senate Bill No. 23-54 that she formally introduced during a Senate session Tuesday that the purpose of this legislation is to protect consumers by establishing specific guidelines on the manufacturing, distribution, and sale of afok or bweesch under the Pure Food and Drug Control Act.

She said the other purpose is to continue to safeguard CNMI’s natural resources.

The senator noted that in the past, afok or bweesch was made from coral obtained from the reefs in the CNMI coastal waters, but the enactment of Public Law 3-47 established the regulation and protection of all coastal resources including corals.

She said the Division of Coastal Resources Management manages the ecologically significant resource areas for their contribution to marine productivity and value as wildlife habitats, and preserves the functions and integrity of reefs as it relates to the CNMI’s sustainable and conservation efforts, among other things.

Magofna said as a result, the harvesting of corals to manufacture and produce afok or bweesch for consumption, both for personal and commercial use, was eventually restricted and regulated.

She said the ingredients used in afok or bweesch for chewing betel nut have changed over time, thus it is more prone to dangerous adulterated or manipulated ingredients by actors in search of financial gain.

Magofna recognized that the prevalence of oral cancer in the CNMI community has alarmingly and significantly increased in the last few years.

She said although afok or bweesch has not yet been determined to have a direct link to oral cancer or other deadly disease at this time, it is an active ingredient in the betelnut chew mixture consumed by those diagnosed with oral cancer in the CNMI.

Health clinics throughout the region continue to research and investigate the effects of afok or bweesch on humans.

Under the bill, afok or bweesch for sale shall have on its label the name of the manufacturing company, distributor, place or manufacture, ingredients and a warning label which states: “This product may be linked to oral cancer.”

Imported afok or bweesch products have the same such label requirements.

The afok or bweesch container shall be properly packaged and sealed with an unbroken seal cover.

No person shall manufacture, prepare, preserve, package or store for sale any food, afok or bweesch, under unsanitary conditions and must have a food handler certification and a sanitary permit as required by the Bureau of Environmental Health.

On penalties, any person who violates the provisions of the Act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon a first conviction, fined not more than $500 and be imprisoned for not more than 90 days.

Upon a second or subsequent conviction for a violation of the Act, a personal shall be fined not more than $2,000, imprisoned for not more than one year, and his or her business license will be revoked for a period of one year.