Amendment of Bureau Circular No. 2007 - 009 on the Standard Iodine Level of Salts for Strict Compliance of Iodized Salt Manufacturers or Processors (FDA Circular No. 2013-007)

FDA,, r uud and 01'uq 1'd111t111s1r1ho11 PHii lPPIIII S OS March 2013 • FDACffiCULAR No. 2013-007 Republic of the Philippines Department of Health FOOD AND DRUG ADMI ISTRATION SUBJECT: Amendment of Bureau Circular No. 2007 - 009 on the Standard Iodine Level of Salts for Strict Compliance of Iodized Salt Manufacturers or Processors I. RATIONALE Republic Act No. 8172, an Act Promoting Salt lodization Nationwide and for Related Purposes and otherwise known as the ASIN Law, has been implemented by the Department of Health (DOH) - Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 1995 to promote and contribute to the elimination of Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD) through cost-effective preventive measure of salt iodization. Among others, Section 3 of the ASIN Law requires the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BF AD), now the FDA, to set and enforce standards for food­ grade iodized salt and to monitor compliance thereof by the food-grade salt manufacturers. BF AD Circular No. 2007-009 was issued dated 10 October 2007 to amend the standard on iodine content in salt, which was initially set in the production site and port of entry in bulk at 70 to 150 ppm (mg/Kg) down to 20 to 70 ppm (mg/Kg) across distribution channels. In the interest of public health, Bureau Circular No. 2007-009 is hereby amended, taking into consideration the 2008 Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRJ) - Department of Science and Technology (DOST) National Nutrition Survey (NNS), which showed that 80.97% of salt at the household level is positive for iodine but only 25.2% is adequately iodized at the WHO recommended level of 15 ppm (mg/Kg). The results of the NNS suggest that there is a need to take into consideration the losses during processing, among other technical considerations like moisture content, and to increase the current recommended level of iodization of salt at the point of manufacture or processing. The public health goal of the ASIN Law is to be able to contribute to the reduction of IDD among high-risk groups through responsive salt iodization, thus, the importance of amending BFAD Circular No. 2007-009. C1v1c Drive F1hnvest Corporale City, Alabang, City of Munltnlupa I /El 1 Philippines 8094390 (lrunkhne) / 8425606 (mformallon) / 8078275 (consumer hothm,) t !ln70751 (director) WWW bfad gov ph / bfad@bfad gov ph II. AMENDMENT All manufacturers or processors of food-grade iodized salt, whether bulk or retail, imported or local, across the nationwide distribution channels, are hereby directed to implement and ensure salt iodine content of 30 to 70 ppm (mg/Kg), amending the standard of 20 to 70 ppm (mg/Kg) as specified in Bureau Circular No. 2007-009 dated 10 October 2007. III. REPEALING CLAUSE Provisions of previous issuances which are inconsistent to the above amendment is hereby modified, and/or repealed accordingly. IV. EFFECTIVITY This Circular shall take effect immediately upon signing. For strict compliance of all food-grade iodiuzed salt manufacturers or processors. TIGAN-GO, MD ctor IV