Lebanese Republic 
Salam and the UNICEF Representative sign a work plan
in terms of salt iodination and the healthy food environment
Minister of Economy and Trade M. Amin Salam signed with the UNICEF Representative in Lebanon Edouard Beigbeder a joint work plan for 2024 within the frame work of cooperation between both parties.
The work plan is divided into two parts whereof the first one consists in enhancing the law enforcement of the salt iodination through elaborating mechanisms for strengthening the producers’ capabilities to comply with the law as well as to develop the inspection procedures in order to control this sector. As for the second part, it consists in controlling the healthy food environment while stressing on organizing the marketing process that promotes unhealthy foods for children.
In terms of the enforcing the salt iodination’ law, relevant mechanisms will be elaborated to boost the compliance capacity of the producers in addition to enhance the control process through developing the inspection and the quality control procedures of both the Ministry of Economy and Trade and the salt producers in Lebanon.
Furthermore, relevant mechanisms consists in organizing joint workshops to build capacities and boost the capabilities of the staff, the salt’ producers and national laboratories.
To this end, it was agreed to conduct an analysis for the supply chain of the iodized salt in Lebanon in order to determine the necessary measures to enhance the quality and coverage of the iodized salt in Lebanon.
As for the second part of the agreement concerning the children nutrition and organizing the marketing process that promotes unhealthy food for children, it included the following points:
- Evaluate the food and nutrition environment while stressing on the marketing means targeting children posted on different platforms (shops, media, …)
- Boost the consumer’ behavior in the field of healthy eating and children nutrition to avoid the burdens of malnutrition.
- Develop necessary organizational frames and legislations aiming to organize the control over marketing process that promotes unhealthy food for children from the child rights perspective.
