In the shadow of the war in Ukraine and the looming fear of a nuclear confrontation, several nations have raised alarms or activated plans to safeguard their populations. Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometer border with Russia, saw a notable surge in demand for potassium iodide tablets last week. These tablets help prevent the thyroid from absorbing radioactive iodine in the event of radiation exposure. Stocks sold out within hours.
Beyond this immediate guidance, Finland has long maintained a thorough, decades-long framework to prepare citizens for potential wars, nuclear accidents, and natural disasters. The country operates a wide network of civil protection shelters, large strategic reserves, consumables, and emergency protocols designed to respond to a variety of unforeseen scenarios.
European nations differ in their contingency planning and iodine tablet policies. Proximity to conflict zones has shaped some responses, as seen in Finland, Poland, Romania, and the Baltic states. Yet most countries do not publicly disclose detailed plans, especially in light of the Ukraine crisis.
Spain: One million public pills… and the rest is secret
Supply records show the Defense Pharmacy Military Center at the San Pedro military base in Colmenar Viejo (Madrid) producing 1,250,000 tablets. Reports from El Periódico de Catalunya and Prensa Ibérica indicate a high concentration of potassium iodide, with a maximum of 65 milligrams per tablet.
That production, scheduled for November, differs from patterns in some European nations that stock iodine for radiation protection in the Ukraine war context. Madrid’s pills will be distributed to nearby populations around nuclear plants in Ascó, Vandellós, Trillo, Garoña, Cofrentes, and Almaraz as existing iodine reserves in the Nuclear Contingency Plan are exhausted.
Distributing the tablets falls to the Home Affairs ministry via Civil Protection, with planned distribution across Tarragona, Guadalajara, Burgos, Valencia, and Cáceres. The plan targets 625,000 residents. Each tablet is a partial dose; in certain radiological emergencies, neighbors may take two tablets to reach about 130 milligrams, saturating the body and blocking radioactive iodine absorption.
There is mention of another, standard production of iodine tablets within defense plans, though officials have not commented in depth. The total number of tablets and their storage locations are treated as sensitive in the National Security System. Some sources note that iodine pills are among 11 tons of sanitary materials sent to Ukraine in March by the General Health Inspectorate, amid European concerns about the region and Chernobyl.
Further away from Zaporiya than Helsinki or Bucharest, Madrid’s Moncloa department of National Security oversees drug preparedness, not pill manufacture. The public is urged to distinguish between social media rumors and Russia’s destabilizing propaganda.
Meanwhile, online marketplaces feature promises of radiation protection, though some sellers describe iodine tablets as largely dietary supplements. A military source notes that store-bought pills generally have minimal concentrations.
France: Concerns about pill stocks
The French government has largely refrained from public comment on the role of iodine tablets in a nuclear event tied to the Ukraine war. Officials emphasize deterrence, noting that both France and Western powers possess nuclear capabilities. President Emmanuel Macron suggested that limiting public discussion might bolster credibility in a volatile security environment.
In practice, France has been cautious in public statements about iodine pills. The most recent comments from March indicated there is enough iodine to meet population needs, though questions remain. France reportedly held tens of millions of pills in 2020, but population coverage and stock sufficiency continue to be debated.
Italy: Not available in pharmacies, distributed by government in emergencies
Italy has shown little inclination for mass consumer purchase of iodine tablets as a precaution against a potential nuclear incident, according to industry representatives. Public discussion on the topic has been limited.
Nevertheless, officials acknowledge a reserve stock and an extraordinary distribution plan for pharmacies in the event of a nuclear alarm. Taking iodine tablets preemptively is viewed as unnecessary by many experts due to potential thyroid side effects. When an emergency is declared, distribution would be handled by Civil Defense, with coordination across relevant ministries and the National Health Service.
In short, access to iodine tablets in Italy is tightly controlled, with stock managed by the state rather than through routine retail channels.
Germany: 190 million pills stored nationwide
Germany has not advised the public to buy or stock iodine tablets. The government announced a large reserve, nearly 190 million tablets, stored across 16 states in response to the Ukraine crisis and radiation risk.
The policy centers on targeted distribution: roughly 100 kilometers from plant sites, iodine tablets would be distributed to those up to 45 years old, pregnant women, children, and adolescents in the immediate vicinity of a nuclear facility. Self-medication with high-dose iodine is discouraged due to health risks, and tablets are only effective when taken at the proper moment.
Belgium: Free tablets in pharmacies since 2018
The current nuclear risk is assessed as low, yet Belgian authorities monitor developments in Ukraine closely. There is no general advice to carry iodine pills, though since 2018 Belgian citizens can obtain tablets freely at pharmacies within a designated emergency framework.
Authorities note rising public interest in iodine tablets since the Ukraine crisis began, even as radiation measurements show no clear increase in risk. The national stockpiles remain substantial, with hundreds of thousands of boxes distributed in the past year. The Belgian nuclear and radiological emergency plan continues to support readiness, while ensuring access for those near reactors and neighboring borders.