Oct. 27, 2009 (United Press International) -- Israeli lawmakers are moving to exempt health regulators from criminal liability due to acts carried out while fulfilling their duties, observers say.

The move comes after five Israeli Health Ministry officials were indicted for negligence in the 2004 Remedia case, in which the German baby formula maker Humana (NYSE:HUM) had removed essential vitamin B1 from the product without reflecting the change on its packaging. Three babies died and more than 20 were harmed in the aftermath, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported Tuesday.

But a Knesset bill reportedly would exempt public officials from criminal charges in such cases. The measure, the newspaper said, was initiated by the Health Ministry, submitted as a private member's bill by Member of Knesset Aryeh Eldad and has received support from the Israeli Cabinet.

Sources on the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee told Haaretz that if the bill is passed, the five Health Ministry officials could see the charges against them dropped.