September 15, 2009, ITAR-TASS: Head of the State Duma Committee for Public Health says State Duma is working at the legislation on prevention of iodine deficiency disordersBy ITAR-TASS correspondent Ivan Novikov More than 1 million children born in Russia annually are at a high risk of impaired intellectual development due to insufficient amount of iodine in their mothers’ diet. This fact was voiced at a meeting of State Duma deputies from the State Duma Committee for Public Health with a delegation of UNICEF representatives held today. Commenting on the results of the meeting, the Chair of the Committee Ms. Olga Borzova told an ITAR-TASS correspondent that they had discussed issues concerning the legislative framework for carrying out national programmes aimed at prevention of dietary iodine deficiency among the Russian population and the ways to promote further cooperation between the State Duma and UNICEF in this area. She noted that a group of experts from the Committee had drawn up a draft law on “Prevention of Iodine Deficiency Disorders”, which envisaged a partial prohibition of production, sale and consumption of non-iodized salt. “Presently, we are working on this document in a speedy manner, and we are grateful to UNICEF for their considerable expert assistance and valuable recommendations”, she pointed out. According to the State Duma deputies who are members of the Public Health Committee, the problem related to the elimination of iodine deficiency needs to be addressed both at the federal and regional levels. “In addition to the creation of an appropriate legal environment, the government should provide support to relevant research activities and production of edible iodine bearing products, as well as the engagement of mass media for the purpose of wide-scale advocacy among the general public of IDD prevention measures and implementation of regional programmes on healthy eating and nutrition”, the head of the Committee noted. She recalled that the current regulatory legal framework provided for a voluntary model of IDD prevention. However, according to the findings of surveys conducted in late 90’s, all Russian residents were exposed to some degree of iodine deficiency. It was also revealed that only 27 per cent of households in urban regions and 19 percent of households in rural areas were using exclusively iodized salt in their diet. The said findings were used to support the elaboration of the Russian Government resolution on measures to prevent iodine deficiency disorders? Which was adopted in 1999. Ms. Borzova also indicated that there were no problems with regard to the domestic production and supply of iodized salt, and national salt producers had the capacity to fully meet the local demand for iodized salt. Ms. Borzova also pointed out that the mandatory model of prevention of iodine deficiency through universal salt iodization in the Russian Federation would “require the adoption by the State Duma of a special law on prevention of dietary iodine deficiency or introduction of amendments to the current legislative acts, e.g., the regulations governing the quality and safety of food products.”
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