With financial and technical support from the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and ICCIDD, the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation convened a two-day workshop in Dhaka last week announcing its new quality assurance manual which will be used to upgrade the quality of iodized salt in the country, NGO News reported January 12. ICCIDD regional coordinator Gregory Gerasimov and ICCIDD partner GAIN's executive director Marc Van Ameringen joined local public health officials at the workshop.

"The Government of Bangladesh began its commitment to eliminating iodine deficiencies in 1989 when it established the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorder (ICCIDD) Project within the Small and Cottage Industries Corporation under the Ministry of Industries. Maintaining quality of iodized salt from production to consumption is a key project focus.

"The manual, which is aligned with internationally agreed-upon best practice and management and salt quality standards, will be adapted to the Bangladeshi context. The tool will provide guidelines so salt producers and regulatory agencies can improve their iodization and testing practices."