HB10210: ASIN LAW REPEAL ACT OF 2021
This bill proposes the repeal of Republic Act No. 8172, also known as the "ASIN Law," which mandates the iodization of all food-grade salt nationwide. The ASIN Law was enacted to combat iodine deficiency disorders but, according to the explanatory note, has inadvertently created significant challenges for the local salt industry, restricting their ability to produce various salt types and compete in the global market. It also highlights how the law has negatively impacted local culinary traditions and related businesses, such as "tinapa" (smoked fish) makers, due to changes in product taste caused by iodized salt.
The significance of repealing the ASIN Law lies in its potential to revitalize the struggling local salt industry, enabling salt producers to innovate and offer a wider array of indigenous salt varieties. This could restore traditional salt-making practices and support related local businesses that have been adversely affected. For the general public, it could mean greater access to diverse and traditional Philippine salts, enriching the country's culinary heritage and promoting local agricultural products, while shifting the focus from mandatory iodization to other public health strategies for micronutrient deficiencies.