Reporter: Ms. Karen Codling, could you share the global experiences of countries on enforcing laws on food fortification of salt with iodine?
Ms. Karen Codling: I think fortification of salt with iodine is recommended as the most effective way to prevent iodine deficiency.
A research project on iodine status of countries in 2017, based on median urinary iodine concentration (mUIC) of school age children, showed that Vietnam is one of 19 countries with insufficient iodine intake.
109 countries with mandatory legislation for salt iodization gave a number of lessons learnt for Vietnam. Internationally, many countries have had success fortifying salt with iodine. We have a report to assess the success of all countries. We recognize that in order to be successful, countries have to apply mandatory legislation for salt iodization along with other legislative framework.
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Besides, food fortification requires partnership between industry, government and civil society. To the Government, integration of fortification monitoring and enforcing at production facilities and points of import is recommended.
In conclusion, integrating the implementation of the Decree on food fortification with food safety and hygiene will make it easier to monitor.
Reporter: Do you have any comment on the fact that in Vietnam, we have done a very good job of fortifying salt with iodine, however, since 2005, it has significantly been reduced?
Ms. Karen Codling: In Vietnam, mandatory salt iodization has been successful and effective in the past. However, a voluntary salt iodization and discontinuation of government support led to declines in household coverage of iodized salt and return of iodine deficiency.
In the past, it was the mandatory fortification and then voluntary fortification, so that salt factories felt they were not really enforced, and the Government did not subsidize micronutrients to mix with salt and the factories also did not produce iodised salt. That leads to the consumption of iodized salt being reduced. It has also realized the problem and issued Decree 09 on January 28th, 2016 to strengthen iodine, iron, zinc and vitamin A as compulsory elements that need to be included in Vietnamese food.
Reporter: What are your warnings if we do not implement Decree 09/2016/ND-CP on food fortification right now? And the consequences that Vietnam will suffer?
Ms. Karen Codling: The problem that we can see now is that if the Government issues a policy but it is not actually implemented, salt factories will not be serious about enforcement. For the government, they realize that it’s time to strengthen the legislative framework, but it's too late because the government got businesses into the habit of not implementing the Decree and it is so difficult to change the habit.
The iodine deficiency would causes: Goitre - swelling of the thyroid gland in the neck; irreversible brain damage in the fetus and infant, retarded psychomotor development in children, which impede children’s learning ability, affect reproductive functions, most common cause of preventable impaired cognitive development.
The Decree 09/2016/ND-CP came into force on March 15th, 2016 to prevent and reduce iodine deficiency in the community, protecting the people’s health. In the future, the Decree will also come into force with iron and zinc must be added to wheat flour, while vegetable oil that contains soybean oil, coconut oil, canola oil or peanut oil is required to have vitamin A - excluding vegetable oil used in industrial food processing. I think If we do not really implement this Decree effectively, it will be difficult to implement the next regulations.
In addition, the mandatory salt iodization has been successful and effective in the past. The voluntary salt iodization and discontinuation of government support led to declines in household coverage of iodized salt and return of iodine deficiency. I see that the new mandatory legislation offers a fresh opportunity to prevent iodine deficiency must be enforced. The Government also needs to ensure that any business enforces the regulations, that business will be protected. Government commitment and coordination is necessary for successful salt iodization in Vietnam.
Reporter: Thank you very much for your sharing./.