Universal Salt Iodization Resource Kit - Regional Meetings' Declarations

KIEV

Resolution By Salt Producers And Suppliers Of Central And Eastern Europe, Commonwealth Of Independent States, And The Baltic States

Assembled at Kiev, Ukraine, on 29 September - 1 October 1999
We, participants in a meeting on strategies to promote universal salt iodization

Recognize that:

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An appropriate diet with sufficient iodine is the right of all children and their families, and a critical precondition for full brain development, mental achievement and quality of life of all humans;

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In the majority of our countries, iodine deficiency disorders are a major public health concern. Therefore, although iodine deficiency is the easiest form of malnutrition to eliminate, it continues to constrain our people from reaching their full mental and physical potential as students, parents, workers and citizens;

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Lifting the burden of iodine deficiency disorders is a vital step in the development of our nations and democratic institutions, and the establishment of a vibrant, economic marketplace. Universal salt iodization is the agreed-upon worldwide strategy for the elimination of iodine deficiency. Iodized salt is safe, economic and proven effective in preventing iodine deficiency disorders. Salt producers are essential for achieving success in salt iodisation. We encourage continued investment in technology, delivery and marketing of iodized salt. Sustaining public access to iodized salt is the key condition for sustaining the elimination of iodine deficiency;

And

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Ensuring universal salt iodization and sustaining it in our markets involves close collaboration and mutually supportive actions by public agencies, non-government al and civic organizations, and private companies. It also requires sharing of information and expertise, creating public awareness, assuring quality of actions and results, and monitoring progress. All these factors can assure the protection of consumers from iodine deficiency forever.

Therefore, we declare our determination to do the following:

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Apply our full production, sales and marketing expertise to deliver only iodized, food-grade salt to all our customers, including food-processing industries. We, the producers, dealers and traders in 24 of the 27 countries of Eastern Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States and Baltic States will jointly help pursue the goal of attaining universal salt iodisation within the next 12 months and sustaining it thereafter;

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Collaborate with our partners from the public and civic sectors to use the full range of our communications assets, including marketing, media, sales and education channels, to build public awareness and consumer demand of iodized salt;

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Communicate with all our leaders to reinforce the common goals of national, social and economic development, and ensure continued consensus on policies and regulations that can most effectively stimulate and maintain our private investments in salt iodization. In particular, we commit to the following technical guideline for iodized salt: the fortificant should be potassium iodate;

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the average level of iodization at production shall be determined nationally to be in the range of 20-40 mg of iodine (34-66 mg of potassium iodate) per kg of salt;

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the label shall clearly display , the iodine level, country and place of production, and recommendations for use;

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Establish a Salt Association of producers and traders to promote our interests in salt iodization, and obtain and disseminate information on technology, expertise, skills and markets which are in our common interest;

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Continue to promote iodized salt in food products for human and animal consumption in close collaboration with public health and nutrition agencies and grassroots development organizations.

We expect full collaboration from government agencies responsible for the overview and quality control of iodine deficiency control programs, from scientific and medical groups and associations, to keep us up to date on improvements in technological methods and to raise consumer awareness, and the United Nations agencies to assist us in obtaining appropriate technical assistance, as required.

We, the participants from 24 countries, promise upon returning home to fulfil all the measures declared above.

We pledge to publicly report on the progress achieved in these steps within 1 year from today.

Kiev, 1 October, 1999