Ministry of labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia Department of Public Health

1. Ministry of labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia Department of Public Health Legislative Basis for supporting efforts in IDD elimination and Universal Salt Iodization 25-28 June 2004 Dr. Ramaz Urushadze – Head, Public Health Department

2. July 1996 – Presidential Decree (# 480), on provision of Georgian population with the quality iodized Salt. The main request of this Decree was to consume only iodized salt by human and by animal too.

3. October 1996 - Presidential Decree (# 685) on establishment of Coordination board on IDD elimination 1996 (July, 15) - Order (# 328) of the Minister of Labour, Health and Social affairs - establishing local (district's) committees combating IDD.

4. 1997 - amendment to tax legislation for excemption of tax on iodized salt. • March 1998 - Presidential Decree (# 109) on prevention and treatment of iodine and other Micronutrients deficiency disorders through provision of adequate control on import, storage and realization of iodized Salt

5. April 1998 - Order (# 188) by the Minister of Labour, Health and Social affairs, on the prevention and treatment of iodine and other Micronutrients deficiency disorders. • July 1998 order (# 295) of the Minister of Labour, Health and Social affairs, on the prevention and elimination of IDD.

6. 1998 - State Department of standardization, Metrology and Certification elaborating the State standard of Iodized salt • 1998 - Customs Department and State Department of Standardization, Metrology and Certification introducing special code for import of iodized salt 250100911

7. May 2002 – Presidential decree (#242) on additional Measures of IDD prevention to: - Develop 2004-08 Inter-sectoral IDD Prevention Program - Draft Law on IDD prevention/USI; - Enforce local IDD committees; - Ensure production of safe and fortified products with vitamins and micronutrients.

8. Draft Law • Prepared by Ministry of Labour, Health & Social Affairs and submitted to the Parliament in 2003 • Banning import and Sale of Non-Iodized Salt into the country except for Medical, Technical and Re-iodization Purposes • All salt for human consumption and livestock should be iodized • Prior permission to be requested for import of non-iodized salt by MOH & MoAgriculture • Expired salt subject to re-iodized or utilized in technical industry

9. The key tools of law should be: • Strengthening the control, supervision and quality assurance systems for iodized salt at all levels • Setting out roles & responsibilities of state authorities in certification, QC & monitoring 2. Introducing the stricter penalties for salt importers, producers, wholesalers and retailers who don't comply with the iodized salt law.

10. National Requirements for Iodized Salt Met through > 100 % Import No separation of Import data for Human/Livestock

11. World Experience proves that IDD reduction Increases productivity of the livestock Salt requirement for animal consumption - 20-22 thousand tons annually. Standards & regulations for Iodized Salt for Livestock to be elaborated further

12. Lessons Learned • Despite all efforts to built strong legislation environment - endorsement still inadequate • No sanction mechanisms in place or implemented up to date • Poor Quality Control at the Customs Level • No regular QC at Wholesale and retails Level • Lack of clarity on mandates & roles of individual state authorities