The mission of IF is to improve the quality of life of people with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus throughout the world and to decrease the prevalence of Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus by primary prevention.

Primary prevention is most effectively achieved through the mandatory addition of Folic Acid to staple foods, so called mandatory food fortification with Folic Acid.

Mandatory fortification would mean that Folic Acid would reach all women of childbearing age before they become pregnant, providing the most humane and efficient protection against neural tube defects for nearly all children.

IF Policy Statement

During the IF Annual General Meeting in Minneapolis, USA, 28 June 2005, the IF members adopted the  IF Policy Statement on Prevention of Neural Tube Defects and Mandatory Food Fortification.

IF calls for action to:

1. Promote the health benefits of the vitamin Folic Acid.
2. Ratify a policy calling on all countries to fortify staple food with the vitamin Folic Acid to reduce the incidence of neural tube defects (NTDs).
3. Encourage further research into the prevention of neural tube defects (including Spina Bifida).

Flour Fortification Initiative (FFI)

In 2004 the Flour Fortification Initiative (FFI) was started with the goal of making flour fortification standard milling practice so that people worldwide would become smarter, stronger, and healthier.
FFI builds alliances between governments and international agencies, wheat and flour industries, and consumer and civic organizations to promote flour fortification.
IF joined the FFI Leaders Group in 2007.

IF activities

 

2005		Lobbying the European Members of Parliament requesting mandatory food fortification with Folic Acid
2005		Adoption of the  IF Policy Statement on Mandatory Food Fortification
2006		3rd National Week on Prevention of Spina Bifida organized by GASBI - Presentation IF president Pierre Mertens: Preventing Spina Bifida through Folic Acid flour fortification
2007		IF Award for FFI
2007		FFI and IF host European meeting on mandatory flour fortification in Brussels
2008		Public consultation regarding a European Action in the Field of Rare Diseases -  IF response
2008		Toolkit for Flour Fortification in Europe presented during flour fortification workshop in Lisbon
2008		European Regional Flour Fortification Consultation, in association with the 3rd Annual International Association of Operative Millers (IAOM) Eurasia District Conference and Expo in Bucharest
2008		IF participates in First African Flour Fortification Workshop
2009		Update Folic Acid fortification in Ireland during IF workshop
2009		IF participates in the FFI Africa Partners Meeting in Dakar, Senegal
2009		IF participates in the Smarter Futures project, together with BOSK, FFI and AkzoNobel, with financial aid from the Dutch Government (Schokland Fund/Millennium Agreements)
2009		IF president Pierre Mertens visits Ethiopia to advocate for flour fortification
2009		Through the Smarter Futures project IF participates in the Training for Trainers in Dakar, Senegal
2009		Partnership with Bayer Schering Pharma Women’s Healthcare to raise awareness of Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) in Europe
2010		Publication and presentation in the European Parliament of joint report with Bayer Schering Pharma Women’s Healthcare: Act against Europe's most common birth defects