Iceland brings new infectious disease control laws into force

New infectious disease control laws took effect in Iceland on Tuesday, replacing legislation from 1997 and changing how disease prevention is administered, mbl.is reports, citing a notice from the Directorate of Health.

The comprehensive revision was prompted in part by experience from the Covid-19 pandemic. The explanatory memorandum accompanying the bill said there was a particular need to review the administration of infectious disease control and public measures because of lessons learned during the pandemic.

During Covid-19, extensive public disease control measures were imposed on the population for the first time since the previous legislation took effect. A working group tasked with drafting new comprehensive legislation was appointed in June 2021.

One of the main changes is a clearer definition of the role of the chief epidemiologist. The chief epidemiologist is appointed by the minister for five years at a time and is responsible for implementing infectious disease control under the minister’s overall supervision, while continuing to work within the Directorate of Health. Guðrún Aspelund currently holds the position.

A new epidemic committee is also being established. Its responsibilities include making recommendations to the minister on public disease control measures when diseases that pose a danger to society emerge. The existing infectious disease control council will be discontinued in its current form.

The new legislation more clearly defines which diseases fall under its scope and classifies them according to severity. It also covers unusual or unexpected events that could have serious health consequences in Iceland or internationally.

The chief epidemiologist will continue to have the authority to impose measures in response to the risk of transmission from individuals, including health examinations, quarantine and isolation, provided the conditions set out in the law are met.

Alþingi approved the legislation on April 21. At the same time, more than a century-old legislation from 1920 authorising the government to ban imports of goods considered capable of causing an infection risk has been repealed, the Directorate of Health said.

The full text of the new legislation is available on Alþingi’s website.