Good afternoon. The Salt Institute is pleased to participate in this program this afternoon as a charter partner in The Network for the Sustained Elimination of Iodine Deficiency. The Salt Institute is the North American-based global association of salt producers. Salt producing companies make 230 million tons of salt every year. Most is used as the feedstock for chemicals or in other industrial processes, but in many of the countries here today, food salt is the largest use of the salt produced. Every day, in every country in the world, every person consumes salt. And the overwhelming majority consumes salt in the predictable range of 6 – 12 grams per day, making it an ideal vehicle to deliver vital nutrients where dosage is an important consideration. That is why we use salt not only to deliver iodine to humans, but salt is also fortified to provide fluoride and iron to at-risk populations and to deliver a full range of trace minerals and medications to poultry and livestock. We have solid science and long experience showing the superiority of salt used for this purpose. Fortunately, fortifying salt is also the least expensive option to deliver vital nutrients to humans and other animal species.
We are pleased to participate in the public-private collaboration that has characterized the recent assault on Iodine Deficiency Disorders. In fact, The Network is the direct result of a challenge issued at the salt industry’s eighth international salt symposium, Salt2000 where UNICEF executive director Carol Bellamy challenged those gathered in The Hague to formalize a public-private partnership.
The Network and similar national coalitions in many countries derive their strength from the breadth as well as the commitment of its member groups. For too often, the problem was thought to be the province of the Health Ministry and, indeed, public health agencies must take the lead. It is crucial, however, that medical societies, international development agencies, civic associations and other government agencies like ministries of education and the military participate; if they don’t, the effort will fail. I’d like to highlight two additional participants whose vital role, in past years, was underappreciated and failure to address their unique contributions has made sustainable success impossible.
The first, of course, are private salt producers. Health ministries do not produce salt. When they promise to iodize “their” salt, they quickly learn that essential fact. Salt producers must add the iodine. They may need encouragement, instruction and even some support, depending on local circumstances, but it is essential that they be in the core membership of the national coalition that undertakes universal salt iodization.
Not as readily perceived, but equally vital to success, is the role of the minister of industry or commerce. Salt producers can be taught how to iodize salt relatively easily. They can buy or be given the relatively inexpensive equipment to iodize and even the potassium iodate required. But they cannot sell their value-add product if the marketplace does not allow them to cover their costs. They need a level playing field and that is the unique role of government regulatory agencies. Enacting laws and regulations is something that governments alone can do, and must do to ensure successful and sustainable salt iodization. But more than that, governments must enforce the regulations; this is the biggest challenge. Sustainable universal salt iodization can only be achieved if it is integrated into the marketplace, if it makes economic sense.
Our experience reinforces the central importance of having effective, multi-sectoral national coalitions.
And that is why The Network for the Sustained Elimination of Iodine Deficiency is so vital. It gathers those same key actors at the global level where they can focus resources to ensure that the campaign advances. The Network prioritizes – we have 14 priority countries right now – and it coordinates and assesses the joint effort. We are proud to have been “present at the creation” and anticipate our continued engagement as we overcome the challenge of providing access to iodized salt for the remaining 30% of the world’s population which still lacks this foundation for public health.
Thank you.
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