Philippines learns from Malaysia on sodium reduction

The Department of Health - Health Promotion Bureau, together with ImagineLaw, participated in a two-day learning exchange with Malaysia’s Ministry of Health and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. The exchange aimed to explore strategies for reducing sodium intake and reformulating foods to prevent noncommunicable diseases in the Philippines.

The visit focused on understanding Malaysia’s policies and legal approaches to sodium reduction, how evidence is built for an effective policy, how stakeholders are engaged in reformulation efforts, and how policy is implemented and monitor its compliance and progress. It also identified key lessons and approaches that can be adapted and applied to support the Philippines’ own sodium reduction initiatives. The Philippine Food and Drug Administration also joined the discussion with the Ministry of Health via zoom.

Technical discussions during the visit covered Malaysia’s Sodium Reduction Initiative, including standards-setting and enforcement, evidence-based reformulation, dietary sodium assessments, and compliance monitoring for manufacturers, including micro, small, and medium enterprises.

The activity is part of the ongoing efforts to advance evidence-based sodium reduction and reformulation initiatives in the Philippines, in support of the DOH's policy priorities.