Achieving Universal Salt Iodisation for Optimal Iodine Nutrition

Achieving Universal Salt Iodisation for Optimal Iodine Nutrition UNICEF, IGN, GAIN, MI EAP Regional Meeting 12 -14 October, Bangkok Improving the capacity of processors to produce adequately iodized salt Rizwan Yusufali Senior Food Fortification Specialist World Food Programme

SALT IODIZATION • Salt Iodization process entails the addition of iodine (KI or KIO 3) in salt. • Objective is to disperse a very small quantity of KIO 3(or KI) is relatively large quantity of salt as evenly as possible and to ensure that the iodine remains in the salt for a reasonable amount of time. 1. DOSING I 2. MIXING ~1. 5 MT of salt [approx. 100 g KIO 3 ] 3. PREVENTION OF LOSSES + Salt = Iodine can be lost through leaching when the moisture content of salt is high 12 -14 October 2015 Bangkok Iodine can be lost through oxidation (I-) or reduction (I+) into I 2(g) which sublimes EAP Regional Workshop on ACHIEVING UNIVERSAL SALT IODISATION FOR OPTIMAL IODINE NUTRITION 2

soln. Steady flow of good quality salt KIO 3 Enabling or supportive environment (legislation, enforcement, consumer awareness, political and financial support) Salt PRINCIPLES OF IODIZATION Potassium iodate solution of consistent concentration SALT IODIZATION Fortificant (KIO 3 or KI) Process QAQC 12 -14 October 2015 Bangkok Sufficient mixing to ensure homogeneity Appropriate packaging EAP Regional Workshop on ACHIEVING UNIVERSAL SALT IODISATION FOR OPTIMAL IODINE NUTRITION 3

12 -14 October 2015 Bangkok Industrial Processing (Industrial Salt) Food Processing (Processed Food Salt) Salt Processing (Washing, Crushing, Packaging) TARGET FOR SALT IODIZATION Processed foods Household Salt Consumption Primary crude salt production (Crude Salt) SALT SUPPLY CHAIN & INTEGRATING IODIZATION

KIO 3 ACCESS 12 -14 October 2015 Bangkok EAP Regional Workshop on ACHIEVING UNIVERSAL SALT IODISATION FOR OPTIMAL IODINE NUTRITION 5

EXPERIENCES WITH KIO 3 ACCESS • Access to KIO 3 is essential to sustain salt iodization. Access is defined by availability of KIO 3 within reach and at affordable prices • KIO 3 is produced in very few countries globally and therefore generally involves importation • Main barriers or challenges • Global price fluctuations and need foreign exchange • Import regulations and tariffs (generally favor importation of larger quantities) • Transportation costs • Specific challenges with small-scale salt production • Distribution and proximity to salt processors • Low volume requirements • Storage and handling conditions 12 -14 October 2015 Bangkok EAP Regional Workshop on ACHIEVING UNIVERSAL SALT IODISATION FOR OPTIMAL IODINE NUTRITION 6

KIO 3 ACCESS MODELS • • Direct procurement by salt industry (mainly larger salt companies) Donations by donors and development agencies Seed funds to establish revolving funds with sliding reduction in subsidy Government collective procurement and distribution 12 -14 October 2015 Bangkok EAP Regional Workshop on ACHIEVING UNIVERSAL SALT IODISATION FOR OPTIMAL IODINE NUTRITION 7

LESSONS AND OPPORTUNITIES FROM KIO 3 DISTRIBUTION MODELS Lessons: - Subsidies are challenging to remove once established - Smaller packaging units (also improve affordability) - Under some circumstances, partial subsidy may be unavoidable Opportunities: - There is scope for taxes, duties and overall import regulations to be reduced and can contribute to making KIO 3 more accessible - Use of existing distribution mechanisms for other products and services to distribute KIO 3 have big potential - The volumes of KIO 3 will never be adequate to afford independent distribution mechanisms 12 -14 October 2015 Bangkok EAP Regional Workshop on ACHIEVING UNIVERSAL SALT IODISATION FOR OPTIMAL IODINE NUTRITION 8

PROCESS 12 -14 October 2015 Bangkok EAP Regional Workshop on ACHIEVING UNIVERSAL SALT IODISATION FOR OPTIMAL IODINE NUTRITION 9

SALT IODIZATION PROCESS • Larger operations usually involve processing and quality improvement (crushing, washing, drying, packaging) - incorporation of iodization a lot easier • The cost contribution of iodization is lower for larger industries and higher for smaller operators • The remaining challenges with salt iodization are primary in the small and medium sector where there a number of barriers to salt iodization: • Low throughputs (contribution to the overall salt supply) • High number of processors (regulatory control is difficult) • Low technical capacity and incentive to iodize 12 -14 October 2015 Bangkok EAP Regional Workshop on ACHIEVING UNIVERSAL SALT IODISATION FOR OPTIMAL IODINE NUTRITION 10

APPROPRIATE PROCESSING EQUIPMENT HOW MUCH DO WE MECHANIZE? Considerations: - Bulk handling and labor costs - Efficiency of overall process (productivity) - Turnover and capacity($) of unit to adopt technology and processes - Initial investment vs. maintenance and running costs - Availability of technical support and auxillary services/parts - Appropriate skills and utilization of local ingenuity and knowhow 12 -14 October 2015 Bangkok What to watch out for • Study all cost components and ownership including who incurs the costs (paid by buyer or seller) • Mechanization may improve homogeneity but if it requires additional handling it reduces productivity and that is the greater cost not cost of equipment and KIO 3 • Higher variation can be absorbed within smaller throughputs • Precision is determined by weakest link in the chain EAP Regional Workshop on ACHIEVING UNIVERSAL SALT IODISATION FOR OPTIMAL IODINE NUTRITION 11

INTERNAL QUALITY ASSURANCE AND CONTROL 12 -14 October 2015 Bangkok EAP Regional Workshop on ACHIEVING UNIVERSAL SALT IODISATION FOR OPTIMAL IODINE NUTRITION 12

INTERNAL QUALITY ASSURANCE AND CONTROL Internal QA / QC Activities External QA / QC Activities Processing Industry Governments Vehicles (Food) National or Imported Vitamins Premix External Monitoring QA / QC Landscape Processing, Fortification Factories or Packers 12 -14 October 2015 Bangkok Import of Fortified Food Commercial Monitoring at Retail Stores EAP Regional Workshop on ACHIEVING UNIVERSAL SALT IODISATION FOR OPTIMAL IODINE NUTRITION 13

INTERNAL QUALITY ASSURANCE AND CONTROL Objectives of internal QAQC (Salt Iodization) § Right amount of iodine (achieve impact and reduce wastage) § Day to day consistency § Homogeneity § Compliance with regulation “Effective fortification is affordable, ineffective fortification is expensive” 12 -14 October 2015 Bangkok QUALITY ASSURANCE All steps taken while making a product to ensure the desired product characteristics are achieved QUALITY CONTROL All steps taken after a product is manufactured to validate it meets the desired characteristics including corrective measures EAP Regional Workshop on ACHIEVING UNIVERSAL SALT IODISATION FOR OPTIMAL IODINE NUTRITION 14

12 -14 October 2015 Bangkok soln. KIO 3 Record keeping - Production records - KIO 3 inventory and usage - Calibration - Salt flowrate - KIO 3 solution flowrate - Preventive maintenance - Laboratory results Salt PRINCIPLES OF QAQC - IODIZATION Measurement - Salt quality - Moisture - Laboratory analysis iodine EAP Regional Workshop on ACHIEVING UNIVERSAL SALT IODISATION FOR OPTIMAL IODINE NUTRITION 15

EXPERIENCES WITH QAQC CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT - Focusing on quality assurance and getting iodization right rather than relying on iodine measurement of processed salt has greater benefits - Maintaining records has advantages for manufacturers for their own control and also when confronted with disputes with regulatory agencies - Improved process control saves money and reduces wastage of resources for manufacturer 12 -14 October 2015 Bangkok EAP Regional Workshop on ACHIEVING UNIVERSAL SALT IODISATION FOR OPTIMAL IODINE NUTRITION 16

COST OF IODIZATION - Iodization is a low contributor to the overall price of salt even in the small scale sector and not a real cost barrier - Price difference between crude salt and iodized refined salt is not attributed to iodization - Paying attention to savings in other areas has a higher potential for cost recovery than iodization TYPICAL COST FACTORS -SALT BUSINESS (ESTIMATES) Profit Iodization Salt Transport Processin g 12 -14 October 2015 Bangkok EAP Regional Workshop on ACHIEVING UNIVERSAL SALT IODISATION FOR OPTIMAL IODINE NUTRITION 17

KEY MESSAGES 1. Understanding the salt supply chain is important to build sustainable iodization programs 2. Identifying incentives and addressing disincentives to iodization is crucial for sustainability 3. Different approaches and models will be needed to work with the small and medium scale salt sector 12 -14 October 2015 Bangkok EAP Regional Workshop on ACHIEVING UNIVERSAL SALT IODISATION FOR OPTIMAL IODINE NUTRITION 18

Thank you! #Commit 2 USI