EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In 1990, government leaders at the World Summit for Children committed to
achieving progress on a range of child survival and development goals, among them the virtual elimination of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). International meetings since then have established a policy framework for collaborative support for global IDD elimination through the strategy of universal salt iodization (USI). By 2002, at least 65 per cent of the world’s population had access to iodized salt, protecting 75 million newborns a year from losses in learning ability due to iodine deficiency. But while progress to date is one of the public health successes of the 20th century, some 46 million children are still born to families where iodized salt is not easily accessible or consumed.
In May 2002, government, private sector and civil society leaders met at the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Children (UNGASS) to revitalize efforts towards completing the agenda of the 1990 Summit. In the World Fit for Children document, these leaders set the goal of sustained elimination of IDD by 2005. The session also marked the launch of the Network for Sustained Elimination of Iodine Deficiency, (the Network) a global coalition of public, private, scientific and civic organizations with a mandate of supporting national efforts to eliminate and sustain elimination by promoting collaborative activities among public, private and civic entities.The Network saw the need to reinvigorate the worldwide effort towards USI, and because China had made such remarkable progress towards this goal in a short time, holding an international meeting there was perceived as a unique opportunity to share experiences among countries, while demonstrating and augmenting national commitments in China.

As Network chair, UNICEF asked the Chinese Government to co-sponsor and host the International Meeting for the Sustained Elimination of IDD in Beijing, October 15-17, 2003. With delegates from over 30 countries and 19 ministerial-level participants, this dynamic, high-level gathering of 290 attendees, including representatives from U.N. agencies, bilateral donors, national policymakers, salt producers and academic institutions provided a forum for exchange of ideas and evidence on successful country experiences and to review critical elements required for sustainability. Five technical sessions, each representing a critical requirement for progress evidenced by China’s experience, provided a framework for defining next steps towards USI, dealing with:

1. Securing political commitment;
2. Ensuring iodized salt supply;
3. Achieving consumer insistence on their right to iodized salt;
4. Monitoring iodized salt and iodine nutrition; and
5. Forming national oversight coalitions.

Presentations and discussions highlighted a series of strategic considerations and global best management practices for national adoption, outlined in this document. Participants adopted the Beijing Statement with action components focused around requirements for success in sustained IDD elimination. The International Meeting for the Sustained Elimination of Iodine Deficiency Disorders provided a timely and substantive forum for sharing experiences. The ministerial delegations reaffirmed the commitments to the achievement of sustained IDD elimination by 2005.With less than two years left to achieve the goal, there is now renewed urgency to our efforts.

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