Sunday, September 11, 2022

A Sin law by the government

Recently, there were reports of salt ("asin" in Filipino) shortages in the country. See these reports for instance, 

DA exec admits salt shortage
Bella Cariaso August 23, 2022
https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/08/23/news/national/da-exec-admits-salt-shortage/1855549

Philippines to import salt amid supply problems —DA exec
JOVILAND RITA,September 7, 2022
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/844004/philippines-to-import-salt-amid-supply-problems-da-exec/story/.

It seems the bad guys here are DOH and WHO. They pushed the mandatory iodized salt, bawal bawal penalize prohibit non-iodized salt like seasalt. See this story,

Supporting Philippine sea salt production helps salt farmers and preserves culture
Yvette Tan  March 12, 2020
https://www.agriculture.com.ph/2020/03/12/supporting-philippine-sea-salt-production-helps-salt-farmers-and-preserves-culture/

DOH-WHO also pushed mandatory vaccination, bawal bawal unvaxxed in many offices and schools. There could be big money for the iodized salt sector the same way there is big money in vax vax vax.

Here is the law, enacted Nov. 15, 1995.

RA 8172,  An Act for Salt Iodization Nationwide (ASIN)
https://www.fda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Republic-Act-No.-8172.pdf

SECTION 3. Purposes.

b) require all producers/manufacturers of food-grade salt to iodize the salt that they produce, manufacture, import, trade or distribute...

SECTION 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...

c) All food outlets, restaurants, and stores are hereby required to make available to customers only iodized salt in their establishment upon effectively of this Act....

SECTION 9. Sanctions. 

... Provided, That any person, whether natural or judicial, 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 (P1,000.00) not more than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00)...
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So technically the non-branded, non-iodized sea salt that I buy in the public market or "palengke" for my grilled bangus at tilapia, are illegal, smuggled products.  Necessary food ingredients are prohibited. And there are even some scientific studies and medical practitioners who do not support iodized salt for other health reasons.

Only Gobment can think and enact bawal-bawal leading to salt shortages.

As consumers, give us choice. Iodized or non-iodized, give us choice. Do not prohibit non-iodized salt.

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