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This page features the full text of
Republic Act No. 8172
An
Act for Salt Iodization Nationwide (ASIN)
AN
ACT PROMOTING SALT IODIZATION NATIONWIDE AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
REPUBLIC
ACT NO. 8172AN
ACT PROMOTING SALT IODIZATION NATIONWIDE AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
Section
1. Title. — This Act shall be
known as "An Act for Salt Iodization Nationwide (ASIN)."
Sec.
2. Declaration of Policy. — It
is hereby declared the policy of the State to protect and promote the
health
of the people, to maintain an effective food regulatory system, and to
provide the entire population especially women and children with proper
nutrition. For this purpose, the State shall promote the nutritional
fortification
of food to combat micronutrient as a priority health program for the
nation.
Sec.
3. Purposes. — The purposes of
this Act are to:chan
robles virtual law library
(a) contribute
to the elimination of micronutrient malnutrition in the country,
particularly
iodine deficiency disorders, through the cost-effective preventive
measure
of salt iodization;
chanrobles virtuallaw libraryred(b) require
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) to undertake the salt iodization program
and for its Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD), to set and enforce
standards
for food-grade 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:chan
robles virtual law library
(e) require
the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to regulate and monitor
trading
of iodized 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:
(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
(i) ensure
the sustainability of the salt iodization program.
Sec.
4. Definition of Terms. — For
purposes of this Act the following terms shall mean:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
(a) Micronutrient
malnutrition. — a disorder resulting from deficiencies vitamin A, iron,
iodine and other micronutrients which the body needs in minute
quantities
everyday.chanrobles virtuallaw libraryred(b) Iodine
deficiency disorder's. — a broad spectrum of deficiencies resulting
from
lack of iodine in the diet which leads to the reduction of intellectual
and physical capacity affecting everyone who is iodine-deficiency and
may
manifest as goiter, mental retardation, physical and mental defects,
and
cretinism.
(c) Food
fortification. — the addition of nutrients to processed foods at levels
above the natural state.
(d) Salt
iodization. — the addition of iodine to salt intended for human or
animal
consumption in accordance with specifications as to form, fortificant,
method, manner and composition as may be prescribed by the BFAD
(e) Food-grade
salt. — salt for human and animal consumption as distinguished from
industrial
salt.
(f) Regulatory
requirements. — the provisions of all applicable laws, regulations,
executive
orders, and other enactments related to food quality and safety,
purity,
nutritional composition, and other aspects of food regulation or
control.
(g) Industrial
salt. — salt used in the treatment, processing, and/or manufacture of
non-food
commercial products.
(h) Manufacturer.
— one who products imports trades in and distributes salt.
(i) Subsistence
producer manufacturer. — one who produces, trades in or distributes
salt
not exceeding two metric tons (2 m.t) of salt per year.
(j) Small
producer/manufacturer. — one who produces, imports trades in, or
distributes
salt ranging from more than two metric tons (2 m.t.) to three hundred
metric
tons (300 m.t.) per year.
(k) Medium
producer manufacturer. — one who products, imports, trades in, or
distributes
salt ranging from more than three hundred metric tons (300 m.t.) to two
thousand metric tons (2,000 m.t.) per year.
(l) Large
producer manufacturer. — one who produces, imports trades in, or
distributes
salt exceeding two thousand metric tons (2,000 m.t.) per year.
Sec.
5. Application. — (a) Thus 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.
chanrobles virtuallaw libraryred
(b) Iodized
salt that conforms to the standards set by the BFAD 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 only iodized salt in their establishment upon effectivity
of this Act. These establishments shall be monitored with the help of
the
LGUs 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.chan
robles virtual law library
(d) In
areas endemic to iodine deficiency disorders, iodized 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.
(e) All
food manufacturers processors using food-grade salt are also required
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 and shall monitor
compliance
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.
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 include iodization by
helping
them obtain soft loans and financial assistance for the procurement of
salt iodization machines, packaging equipment and technology and
fortificant
and by ensuring the systematic distribution of the iodized salt in the
market.chanrobles virtuallaw libraryred(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:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
(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 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.
7. Public Information. — The
benefits and rationale of the use of iodized salt shall be adequately
disseminated
and promoted through organized, systematic and nationwide information
campaign
which shall involve major sectors of society to be spearheaded by the
DOH,
in cooperation and coordination with the LGUs and other agencies
concerned,
particularly the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS),
the
Philippine Information Agency (PIA), provincial science centers,
private
sector, and students.
chanrobles virtuallaw libraryred
The
implementing agency, in coordination with the PIA, shall seek the
cooperation
of the media sector to assist in public information dissemination. Salt
iodization and its benefits shall also be included and given emphasis
in
all levels of health subjects in both public and private schools.chanrobles virtual law library
Sec.
8. The Salt Iodization Advisory
Board. — The National Nutrition Council (NNC), as presently composed,
including
representatives of the DENR, the medical profession and the salt
manufacturers
shall serve as the salt iodization advisory board and shall function as
the policy and coordinating body on salt iodization programs and
activities.
It shall coordinate the efforts of all agencies concerned and monitor
the
implementation of the provisions of this Act. It shall also submit an
annual
report to the Congress of the Philippines on the progress of the salt
iodization
program and offer recommendations for its improvements.chan
robles virtual law library
Sec.
9. Sanctions. — The procedures
for imposing sanctions under this Act and for inspecting and
investigating
the premises where any salt is received, held, manufactured, labeled,
stored,
displayed, delivered, distributed, sold, or located. or where it is
reasonably
believed these activities are being carried out or where salt is
located,
shall be in accordance with the provisions of Republic
Act No. 3720, otherwise known as the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, as
amended:
Provided,
That any person, whether natural or juridical, who violates any of the
provisions of this Act or any of the rules and regulations promulgated
for its effective implementation shall be punished by a fine of not
less
than One thousand pesos (P1,000) nor more than One hundred thousand
pesos
(P100,000): Provided, however, That if the violation is
committed
by any officer, director or member of a business and a juridical entity
acting beyond the scope of his authority, such officer, director or
member
responsible therefor shall be personally liable for the fine: Provided,
further, That such violator shall suffer a revocation of its
business
permit and/or a ban of its product from the market: Provided,
finally,
That the BFAD, in coordination with the LGUs concerned, shall be
authorized
to impose and collect the fines from the violators, and such
collections
shall accrue to the BFAD for its use in the implementation if this Act.
Sec.
10. Appropriations. — The amount
necessary for the implementation of this Act shall initially be charged
to the appropriations of the agencies concerned as may be appropriated,
under the current General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such amount
as
may be necessary for its implementation shall be included in the annual
General Appropriations Act.
Sec.
11. Implementing Rules and Regulations.
— The DOH in cooperation with the agencies concerned shall formulate
the
necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of
this
Act within sixty (60) days from its approval.
Sec.
12. Separability Clause. — If
any portion of this Act is declared invalid, the remainder of this Act
shall not be affected by such declaration and shall remain valid and
enforceable.chan
robles virtual law library
Sec.
13. Effectivity Clause. — This
Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official
Gazette or in two (2) national newspaper of general circulation,
whichever
is earlier.
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