Ensuring food security and access to healthy nutrition is one of the strategic priorities of the Government of the country. In this regard, the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan “On Ensuring Public Access to Fortified Food Products” has been adopted and is being implemented.
The objective of implementing this Law through food fortification is to prevent micronutrient deficiencies in the human body, prevent various diseases, reduce maternal and child mortality, and increase life expectancy.
In this regard, training activities are being conducted periodically across the country, and some of the necessary materials, including vitamins, micronutrients, and potassium iodate, have been imported into the country.
This week, a representative of the State Institution “Agriculture Entrepreneurship Development”, under Subcomponent 3.4 of the “Strengthening Resilience of the Agriculture Sector Project”, jointly with the Public Organization “Media Consulting” and the State Unitary Enterprise “Revolving Fund for Food Fortification of the Republic of Tajikistan”, held working meetings with responsible officials from a number of cities and districts of the country, as well as with heads of enterprises.
During the meetings, the parties reviewed and discussed the implementation of the “Programme for the Prevention of Micronutrient Deficiencies and Related Diseases among the Population of the Country for 2022–2027”, the effectiveness of food fortification from a public health perspective, and the current state of nutritional deficiencies that may lead to anemia, underweight, stunting, goiter, and other conditions affecting children and adolescents, pregnant women, and older persons.
The approval of the label for fortified food products was also discussed. The label is intended to guide manufacturers in complying with the requirements of national standards.
The label enables consumers to easily identify fortified food products, increases confidence in product quality, and contributes to strengthening a culture of healthy food choices in society.
The purpose of holding such meetings, agreeing on the concept of the “Label” for fortified food products and the procedure for its use, coordinating the activities of government authorities and producers, and raising the awareness of stakeholders about the importance of fortified food products is to support the implementation of Resolution No. 508 of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan.
