Salt iodization law enforcement will be strengthened between Cagayan Valley and the Ilocos region in the Philippines to combat the smuggling of non-iodized salt and to stop the production of non-iodized salt in both regions.

Rhodora Maestre, regional nutrition program coordinator, said the proposed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) has been reached following the non-compliance of salt distributors in Burgos and Pasuquin towns in Ilocos Norte province. She said a report of the Regional Bantay Asin Task Force (RBATF) showed that salt producers and distributors in the two towns do not comply with the proper iodization content of their salt products which are transported to Cagayan Valley. RBATF report said the salt products only contained 0.5 ppm of iodine content which is lower than the prescribed 30 ppm and above iodine content.