HB01282: ASIN LAW REPEAL ACT
House Bill No. 1282 seeks to repeal Republic Act No. 8172, also known as the ASIN Law, which mandates nationwide salt iodization. The ASIN Law, enacted in 1975, aimed to combat iodine deficiency disorders by requiring all food-grade salt producers, manufacturers, importers, traders, and distributors to iodize their salt. It also imposed monitoring duties on local government units and required food establishments to offer only iodized salt. However, the bill's explanatory note highlights that this law has posed significant challenges to the local salt industry, making it difficult for them to compete globally and limiting their ability to innovate and offer diverse salt types. Violations of the ASIN Law include fines, revocation of business permits, or product bans.
The repeal of the ASIN Law, proposed by this bill, is significant for the Filipino people as it aims to revive and restore the local salt industry and associated businesses that have been negatively affected by the current legislation. The bill addresses concerns from various sectors, including tinapa makers who reported that iodized salt altered the taste of their products, and salt makers who experienced a decline in traditional salt production methods, such as *fleur de sel* and *Asin Tibuok*. By repealing the ASIN Law, the bill intends to enable small local farmers to compete more effectively in the market and allow for the production and availability of diverse, unique salt varieties that are integral to the Philippines' culinary culture and heritage.