ol tlic S'i tvctnii’
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
23 JAN 19 P5 36
SENATE
RECEIVED BY;
S.B. No. 1 flo
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT N0.8172 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "AN ACT 
FOR SALT lODIZATION NATIONWIDE (ASIN)/'
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II Section 19 of the 1987 Constitution states that "The State shall develop 
a self-reliant and independent national economy effectively controlled by Filipinos."
Republic Act No. 8172 or "An Act for Salt lodization Nationwide" (ASIN Law) 
became a law in 1995. The law seeks to eliminate iodine deficiency disorders by 
mandating all salt producers and manufacturers to iodize their product. However, the 
law had the unintended effect of killing the local salt industry, as small and medium 
salt farmers were unable to comply with the iodization requirements.
Before the passage of the ASIN Law, local producers supply 85% of the country's 
salt requirement, with Bulacan, Cavite, Pangasinan, and Mindoro are the biggest salt 
production centers. According to industry insiders, salt importation started to increase 
sharply in 1998, when El Nino hit the Philippines, followed by La Nina in 1999, 2000, 
2001. This importation is enabled by the ratification of the General Agreement on Tariffs 
and Trade in 1994. In 2020, the Philippines salt imports reached 93% of the total 
supply. Total salt import is expected to increase due to the passage of Republic Act No. 
1024, or the "Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act," which creates an 
additional demand of at least 300,000 metric tons of salt per year to supply coconut 
trees with adequate fertilizers. The total requirement of salt to fertilize coconut trees is 
expected to reach 850,000 metric tons.
This importation can be prevented if the Philippines can use its inherent natural 
advantages. The country has the 5th longest shoreline of any country in the world, with 
36,000 kilometers. The requirement for iodization is a significant barrier for salt
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producers to access both market and government funding. According to the 
Department of Agriculture, BFAR still hasn't been able to use the PhP 100 million budget 
of the government in 2021 to strengthen salt production. As such, there is a need to 
remove the iodization requirement for local salt producers to allow them access to both 
the market and for government assistance.
This bill seeks to remove the requirement for iodization for local salt producers. 
Local salt producers will now be able to access assistance provided under the ASIN Law 
without the requirement for iodization, giving the industry much needed technology 
transfer, capital, and support services.
For the foregoing reasons, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
MEE R. MARCOS


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-• (Dffifp of Mu S ‘ ; ^ i.'irp
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. No. 1718
23 JAN 19 P5 :36
lECEIVED 
_
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
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AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT N0.8172 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "AN ACT 
FOR SALT lODIZATION NATIONWIDE (ASIN)/'
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
SECTION 1. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 8172 otherwise known as the "An 
Act for Salt lodization Nationwide (ASIN)" shall be amended to read as follows:
"SEC. 3. Purposes. — The purposes of this Act are to:
a) contribute to the elimination of micronutrient malnutrition in the 
country, particularly iodine deficiency disorders, through the cost- 
effective preventive measure of salt lodization;
b) require ENCOURAGE all producers manufacturers of food-grade 
salt to iodize the salt that they produce, manufacture, import, trade or 
distribute;
c) require the Department of Health (DOH)-te undertoko the
salt iodization program and for its Bureau of Food and Dr-ug&


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(BFAD)^ to set and enforce standards for food-grado iodized
salt and to monitor compliance thereof by the food-grade salt
manufacturers;
d) require the local government units (LGUs), through their health 
officers and nutritionists/dietitians, or in their absence through their 
sanitary inspectors, to check and monitor the quality of food-grade salt 
being sold in their market in order to ascertain that such salt is 
properly iodized:
e) require the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to regulate and 
monitor trading of iodized salt AND ALL OTHER VARIANTS OF 
SALT:
f) direct the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), in 
collaboration with the Technology and Livelihood Resource Center 
(TLRC), to initiate, promote, and cause the transfer of technology for 
salt iodization MANUFACTURING:
g) authorize the National Nutrition Council (NNC), the policy-making 
and coordinating body on nutrition, to serve as the advisory board on 
salt iodization:
h) provide mechanisms and incentives for the local salt industry in the 
production, marketing and distribution of iodized salt AND ANY
OTHER VARIANTS OF SALT LOCALLY SOURCED AND 
MANUFACTURED, and
i) ensure the sustainability of the salt iodization program."


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SEC. 2. Section 5 of Republic Act No. 8172 otherwise known as the "An Act for 
Salt lodization Nationwide (ASIN)" shall be amended to read as follows:
"SEC. 5. Applicability. — (a) This Act shall apply to the entire salt 
industry, including salt producers/manufacturers, importers, traders, 
and distributors as well as government and non-government agencies 
involved in salt iodization activities.
(b) Iodized salt that conforms to the standards set by the BEAD to meet 
national nutritional needs shall be made available to consumers 
Provided, That the implementation of this Act shall be enforced over a 
staggered period of one (1) year for large and medium producers 
manufacturers, two (2) years for small producers/manufacturers; and 
five (5) years for subsistence producers/ manufacturers.
(c) All food outlets, restaurants, and stores are hereby required to make 
available to customers enly iodized salt in their establishment upon 
effectivity of this Act. These establishments shall be monitored with the 
help of the LGIs through its health officers and nutritionists/dietitians, 
or in their absence, the sanitary inspectors to check and monitor the 
quality of food-grade salt being sold or served in such establishments.
(d) In areas endemic to iodine deficiency disorders, iodized salt AND 
OTHER VARIANTS OF SALT shall be made available Local 
government officials at the provincial and municipal levels shall provide 
mechanisms to ensure enforcement of this provision through 
ordinances and public information campaigns.


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(e) All food manufacturers processors using food-grade salt are also 
required RECOMMENDED to use iodized salt in the processing of 
their products and must comply with the provisions of this Act not later 
than one (1) year from its effectivity. Provided, That the use of iodized 
salt shall not prejudice the quality and safety of their food products: 
Provided, however. That the burden of proof and testing for any 
prejudicial effects due to iodized salt fortification lies on the said food 
manufacturers/processor.
(f) Salt producers/manufacturers shall register with the BFAD, which 
shall maintain updated registry of salt producers/manufacturers an#
shall monitor compliancG with the salt iodization program.
(g) All food-grade salt shall be labeled in a manner that is true and 
accurate, not likely to mislead purchasers and in accordance with the 
requirements prescribed by the BFAD,
(h) For a period of three (3) years from the effectivity of this Act, the 
DOH shall provide free iodized salt to indigents residing in sixth class 
municipalities as may be allowed by their annual appropriations."
SEC. 3. Section 6 of Republic Act No. 8172 otherwise known as the "An Act for 
Salt Iodization Nationwide (ASIN)" shall be amended to read as follows:
"SEC. 6. Support to the Salt Industry. — The following agencies and 
institutions shall support the salt iodization program through their 
respective internal programs.
a) the DTI is hereby required to assist and support local salt 
producers/manufacturers in upgrading their production technologies to


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include iodization by helping them obtain soft loans and financial 
assistance for the procurement of salt iodization machines 
MANUFACTURING, packaging equipment and technology and 
fortificant, AS NECESSARY, and by ensuring the systematic 
distribution of tho iodized salt in the market.
b) the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) shall assist the 
formation of cooperatives of local salt producers/manufacturers in order 
that they can economically engage in salt iodization and distribution
of iodized salt:
c) the DOST in collaboration with the TLRC, shall develop and 
implement comprehensive programs for the acquisition of design and 
manufacture of salt iodization machines and transfer of salt 
iodization MANUFACTURING technology to small and subsistence 
local salt producers/manufacturers; and
d) the Department of Environment and Natural Resources 
(DENR) and other appropriate government agencies shall identify areas 
that are suitable for use as salt farms with the purpose of protecting 
such areas from environmental risks to ensure sustainability of iodized 
salt production."
SEC. 4. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or 
other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly.


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SEC. 5. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall 
remain in force and effect.
SEC. 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following 
the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of 
general circulation in the Philippines.
Approved,