Iceland’s General Penal Code (Act No 19 of 12 February 1940) establishes the general framework of criminal law, including the principle of legality, territorial and extraterritorial jurisdiction, conditions for criminal responsibility, attempts and participation, penalties, confiscation, limitation periods and criminal liability of legal persons. It applies to both natural and, where specifically provided by law, legal persons, including companies, cooperatives, public bodies and municipalities. The Code then defines a broad range of offences, including offences against the State and public authorities, corruption and misconduct in public office, public safety, life and bodily integrity, personal liberty, property and financial interests. It criminalises bribery of public officials and contains general provisions allowing fines, imprisonment and confiscation of proceeds or instrumentalities of crime. A number of provisions are specifically concerned with protecting human health and the safety of goods placed on the market. Article 164 criminalises causing a fire which involves danger to the public shall, whereas Article 170 criminalises conduct that endangers human life or health by causing a general shortage of drinking water or by introducing harmful substances into water reservoirs or pipes. Article 171 covers the introduction of toxic or hazardous substances into goods intended for sale or general use, as well as the treatment, concealment or distribution of corrupted goods that pose a danger to health. Article 172 similarly applies to consumer goods which, because of spoilage or other reasons, are hazardous to human health when their harmful condition is concealed. The Code provides for imprisonment in serious cases and also allows for fines or shorter terms of imprisonment where offences are committed negligently or under mitigating circumstances. The Code also extends these protections to animal and plant health. Article 174 makes it an offence to endanger the life or health of domestic animals through conduct of the kind addressed in Articles 170–173. Article 175 criminalises conduct that creates a risk of the outbreak or spread of communicable diseases among people and separately covers diseases affecting domestic animals or plants. It also provides for liability where such conduct is negligent. Article 179 provides for the imprisonment of persons convicted of serious offences against legal provisions on the protection of the environment, including environmental pollution, storing or releasing waste matter or hazardous substances, and causing substantial disturbance of land. In sum, the Code contains relevant provisions on matters such as food and consumer-product safety, drinking-water protection, animal health and plant health, while leaving the detailed regulation of those sectors to more specialised legislation.
Islandia · 1940-02-12