Role of the Private Sector in Role of the Private Sector in Supporting Implementation of Supporting Implementation of Universal Salt Iodization Policy Universal Salt Iodization Policy

in Georgiain Georgia

Mr. Sergo GelashviliMr. Sergo Gelashvili““Ponto Star” CompanyPonto Star” Company

28 June 200428 June 2004ConferenceConference

“ “ Enhancing Partnership for Elimination of Iodine Deficiency Enhancing Partnership for Elimination of Iodine Deficiency in Georgia’ in Georgia’

11stst Working Day of the Conference - Working Day of the Conference - June 25June 25

Salt Importer CompaniesSalt Importer Companies

““Ponto Star”Ponto Star”

““GEOSOL” (Jimmy 96)GEOSOL” (Jimmy 96)

95% Share 95% Share

Imported Salt Supplies on Local MarketImported Salt Supplies on Local Market

Key Recommendations and Key Recommendations and Discussions PointsDiscussions Points

Legislation and Administrative Basis:Legislation and Administrative Basis:

- - VAT Excemption Policy on Iodized SaltVAT Excemption Policy on Iodized Salt Determining factor contributing to remarkable Determining factor contributing to remarkable

increase of Iodized Salt import in Georgiaincrease of Iodized Salt import in Georgia

- Recommendation for Adopting the Draft Law Recommendation for Adopting the Draft Law Banning import and sale of non-iodized salt other Banning import and sale of non-iodized salt other

than in cases defined by the legislationthan in cases defined by the legislation

Key Recommendations and Key Recommendations and Discussions PointsDiscussions Points

Quality Control at Customs and Sale LevelsQuality Control at Customs and Sale Levels

- Import/Sale – with no notable constraints, except for insignificant Import/Sale – with no notable constraints, except for insignificant delays at customs clearance levels (1-2- days) delays at customs clearance levels (1-2- days)

- Quarterly quality control of salt supplies by State Standardization Quarterly quality control of salt supplies by State Standardization Department – No Constraints/observations Department – No Constraints/observations

- Noting that the interventions undertaken in 2004 in fight against Noting that the interventions undertaken in 2004 in fight against “Smuggling” contributed to “Smuggling” contributed to substantial reductionsubstantial reduction of market share and of market share and turnover of non-registered salt supplies with no relevant certificationturnover of non-registered salt supplies with no relevant certification

- Trade of iodized salt with proper quality certificate from official wholesale Trade of iodized salt with proper quality certificate from official wholesale facilities notably increasedfacilities notably increased

Key Recommendations and Key Recommendations and Discussions PointsDiscussions Points

Private Sector’s Role in Universal Salt Iodization Private Sector’s Role in Universal Salt Iodization

11. Coordination. Coordination

2. Information-education suppoet2. Information-education suppoet

3. Quality Control of Iodized Salt – System’s Transparency 3. Quality Control of Iodized Salt – System’s Transparency

Salt Importer CompaniesSalt Importer Companies

DECLARATION DECLARATION

Committeemen to Universal Salt Iodization Committeemen to Universal Salt Iodization

in Georgia in Georgia

Declaration of Salt Importer Declaration of Salt Importer CompaniesCompanies

Acknowledging:Acknowledging:

The alarming trends of Iodine The alarming trends of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) in Deficiency Disorders (IDD) in Georgia, having irreversible impact on Georgia, having irreversible impact on health and development of the health and development of the population and the future generationpopulation and the future generation

Declaration of Salt Importer Declaration of Salt Importer CompaniesCompanies

ConsideringConsidering

The International Experience – Success The International Experience – Success Achieved in Prevention of Iodine Achieved in Prevention of Iodine Deficiency Disorders through Deficiency Disorders through Implementing Effective Policies for Implementing Effective Policies for Universal Salt IodizationUniversal Salt Iodization

Declaration of Salt Importer Declaration of Salt Importer CompaniesCompanies

Recognizing:Recognizing:

The Urgency of enhancing IDD The Urgency of enhancing IDD Prevention Interventions among child Prevention Interventions among child and adult population in Georgia and the and adult population in Georgia and the Importance of multi-sectoral Importance of multi-sectoral partnership in this endeavorpartnership in this endeavor

Declaration of Salt Importer Declaration of Salt Importer CompaniesCompanies

Affirm our Commitment:Affirm our Commitment:

To supporting and ensuring active To supporting and ensuring active participation in interventions for participation in interventions for Prevention of Iodine Deficiency Prevention of Iodine Deficiency Disorders and Promotion of Universal Disorders and Promotion of Universal Salt Iodization in Georgia, throughSalt Iodization in Georgia, through

Declaration of Salt Importer Declaration of Salt Importer CompaniesCompanies

- Partnership with Interagency Coordination Partnership with Interagency Coordination Committee/Task ForceCommittee/Task Force

- Involvement in design and implementation of Involvement in design and implementation of Information-Education activitiesInformation-Education activities

- Supporting Quality Control measures at Supporting Quality Control measures at Import, Wholesale & Retail levelsImport, Wholesale & Retail levels

Declaration of Salt Importer Declaration of Salt Importer CompaniesCompanies

- Importing Only Iodized Salt Supplies to Georgia Importing Only Iodized Salt Supplies to Georgia

- Ensuring and protecting quality of imported Iodized Ensuring and protecting quality of imported Iodized Salt supplies, and Salt supplies, and

- Mobilization other Private Sector Representatives for Mobilization other Private Sector Representatives for Universal Salt Iodization – advocacy among Food Universal Salt Iodization – advocacy among Food Producing companies for using iodized salt in food Producing companies for using iodized salt in food productionproduction