Iodine Global Network (IGN)

National coalition in the Philippines sees progress with small co-ops

A coalition of local salt producers (TAMACO) in partnership with GAIN, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, UNICEF, government agencies and two salt industry associations, is seeing progress in its efforts to lift the country's current salt iodization program. Today, only 25% of the nation's salt is adequately iodized. GAIN is investing in salt co-ops to iodized properly and to educate the marketplace about the value of iodized salt. After only eight months, the increased demand for properly iodized salt has stimulated the demand for local salt, GAIN reported: "The participative model is both contributing to local poverty reduction and decreases in iodine deficiencies."

The two major challenges facing the initiative are building markets, "especially since the market is dominated by large-scale importers and traders," and ensuring compliance in the marketplace.