The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. In 1935 the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth. Manuel QUEZON was elected president and was tasked with preparing the country for independence after a 10-year transition. Since independence the Philippines has had an often difficult experience with democracy with popular "People Power" movements gaining significance while also underlining the institutional weaknesses of its constitutional republic.
Population - 2011: 101,833,938
Legal system: Based on Spanish and Anglo-American law.
- Latest
- Food Law / Code
- Regulations
- Standards
- Labelling
- Additives
- Contaminants / Allergens
- Residues
12-pages: Covers: (I) Rationale; (II) Objective; (III) Scope and Coverage; (IV) Fee Restructuring; (V) Validity of Authorisation; (VI) Re-Applications; (VII) Customs Clearance; (VIII) Repealing Clause; (IX) Separability Clause; and (X) Effectivity.
Includes: Annex I: Fee Schedule for Center for Food Regulation and Research
36-pages: No. 6474 - Covers: (I) Declaration of Policy and Objectives; (II) Definition of Terms; (III) Basic Principals of Food Safety; (IV) General Principles; (V) Responsibilities on Food Safety; (VI) Food Safety Regulation Coordinating Board; (VII) Crisis Management; (VIII) Implementation of Food Safety Regulations; (IX) Training and Consumer Education; (X) Food-borne illness Monitoring; Surveillance and Research; (XI) Policy on Fees; (XII) Prohibitions, Penalties and Sanctions; and (XIII) Final Provisions.
Note: As of 20 November 2012, this is the only copy we have been able to obtain and as yet to receive confirmation that it has passed the Senate readings.
4-pages: Covers: (1) Short Title; (2) Definitions; (3) National primary drinking water regulations for bottled water; including (a) Limits, (b) Source protection, (c) Monitoring, reporting and inspection, (d) Recall regulations, (e) Prohibition on dual use of bottled water equipment, (f) Bottling, packaging and storage study; (4) Labeling; (5) Authorization of funding; (6) Separability clause; (7) Repealing clause; (8) Effectivity clause.
Please note: This copy has been downloaded from the Philippine Senate website.
2-pages: Covers: (1) Short Title; (2) Declaration of Policy; (3) Definition of Terms; (4) Labeling of Imported Meat and Meat Food Products; (5) Regulations; (6) Penalties; (7) Separability Clause; (8) Repealing Clause; and (9) Effectivity.
Note: As of 16 August, 2012, this copy is the only one we have been able to obtain.
17-pages: Covers: (I) Enabling Provisions; (II) Definition of Terms; (III) Breast-feeing in the Workplace and Public Places; (IV) Milk Storage & Milk Banking in Health Institutions; (V) Breast-feeding Integration in the Curriculum; (VI) Continuing Education, Re-education and Training of Health Workers and Health Institutions.
20-pages: To date this Act has not been passed by the Phiiippines Senate. Covers: (I) Title, Declaration of Policy and Objectives; (II) Definition of Terms; (III) Basic Principals of Food Safety; (IV) General Principals; (V) Responsibilities for Food Safety; (VI) Creationn of a Food Safety Regulation Coordinating Board (FSRCB); (VII) Crisis Management; (VIII) Implementation of Food Safety Regulations; (IX) Training, Consumer Education and Research; (X) Policy on Fees; (XI) Penalties and Sanctions; (XII) Transitory Provisions; (XIII) Miscellaneous and Final Provisions; (XIV) Effectivity.
9-pages: Covers: (1) Title; (2) Declaration of Policy; (3) Definition of Terms; (4) Coverage; (5) National Organic Agriculture Program; (6) National Organic Agricultural Board (NOAB); (7) Composition of the NOAB; (8) Organization of the NOAB; (9)Powers and Functions of the NOAB; (10) The Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards (BAFPS); (11) Functions, Duties and Responsibilities of the BAFPS; (12) Work Plan; (13) Organic Agriculture and Protection of the Environment; (14) Local Executive Committees; (15) Accreditation of Organic Certifying Body; (16) Registration of Organic Food and Organic Input Producers; (17) Labeling of Organic Produce; (18) Retaining of Organic Produce; (19) Availability of Trading Post for Organic Inputs; (20) Research, Development and Extension (RDE); (21) Creation of Organic Agriculture; (22) RDE Centers; (23) Organic Agriculture in the Formal and Non-formal Sectors; (24) Incentives; (25) Appropriations; (26) Penal Provisions; (27) Implementing Rules and Regulations; (28) Annual Report; (29) Congressional Oversight Committee; (30) Separability Clauses; (31) Repealing Clauses and (32) Effectivity
9-pages: Covers: (1) Title; (2) Declaration of Policy; (3) Definition of Terms; (4) Coverage; (5) National Organic Agricultural Program; (7) Composition of the National Organic Agricultural Board (NOAB); (8) Organisation of the NOAB; (9) Powers and Functions of the NOAB; (10) The Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards (BAFPS) of the DA; (11) Functions, Duties and Responsibilities of the BAFPS; (12) Work Plan; (13) Organic Agriculture and Protection of the Environment; (14) Local Executive Committee; (15) Accreditation of Organic Certifying Body; (16) Registration of Organic Food and Organic Input Producers; (17) Labeling of Organic Produce; Retailing of Organic Produce; (19) Availability of Trading Post for Organic Inputs; (20) Research, Development and Extension; (21) Creation of Organic Agriculture RDE Network; (22) RDE Centers; (23) Organic Agriculture in the Formal and Non-formal Sectors; (24) Incentives; (25) Approproations; (26) Penal Provisions; (27) Implementing Rules and Regulations; (28) Annual Report; (29) Congressional Oversight Committee; (30) Separability Clause; (31) Repealing Clause; and (32) Effectivity.
An Act strengthening and rationalizing the regulatory capacity of the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) by establishing adequate testing laboratories and field offices, upgrading its equipment, augemnting its human resource complement, giving authority to retian its income, renaming it the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), amending certain sections of the Republic Act No. 3720 (Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act of 1963) as amended, and appropriating funds thereof.
48-pages: Annex "A": Implementing Rules and Regulations governing the Granting of Tariff exemptions on the Importation of Agriculture and Fisheries Inputs, Machinery and Equipment: (I) Definition of Terms, (II) Covered Articles, (III) Covered Entreprises, (IV) Application / Certification Procedures for Agriculture and Fisheries Entreprises and Micro-Agricultural Processors, (V) Import Consolidators, (VI) Import Requirements, (VII) Import Procedures for Tariff Exemptiom, (VIII) Monitoring and Reporting (IX) Penalties. Annex "B": List of Agriculture and Fishery Inputs, Machinery and Equipment Eligible for Duty-Free Importation.
An Act strengthening the meat inspection system in the country, ordaining for this purpose a "Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines". Covers: Declaration of Policy & Definitions; Institution; Responsibilities of the local government units; Scope of meat inspection; Ante-Mortem & Post-Mortem Inspection; Inspection of imported meat & meat food product; Labeling requirements; Sanitation; Product quality & safety; Product information & consumer awareness; Fees & charges; Prohibited act; Access & Examination; Penalties & sanctions; Transitory provision; and Miscellaneous & final provisions.
9-pages: Joint Department of Health and Department of Agriculture Administrative Order draft documents. Comments closed on 23 March 2012.
13-pages: Administrative Order No. 6 - Covers: (1) Scope; (2) Definition of Terms; (3) Responsibilities of Meat Traders, Vendors, Handlers and Market Administrators; (4) Meat Source and Certification; (5) Meat Packaging and Labelling; (6) Meat Transport to Meat Market; (7) Handling of Chilled Meat, Frozen Meat and Thawed Meat at Meat Markets; (8) Hygiene, Sanitation and Vermin Control Requirements for Meat Markets; (9) Requirements for Personnel Hygiene; (10) Implementing Agency; (11) Penalty Provision; (12) Separability Clause; (13) Repealing Clause; and (14) Effectivity.
Note: In addition, refer to "Guidelines in the Implementation of Administrative Order No. 6, 2012 of Rules and Regulations on the Hygienic Handling of Chilled, Frozen and Thawed Meat in Meat Markets, by ciicking here.
10-pages: Administrative Order No. 05 - Covers: (1) Scope; (2) Definition of Terms; (3) Responsibilities of Meat Dealers, Vendors, Handlers and Market Administrators / Masters; (4) Meat Source and Certification; (5) Meat Transport to Meat Markets; (6) Handling of Meat at Meat Markets; (7) Hygiene, Sanitation and Vermin Control Requirements for Meat Markets; (8) Requirements for Personnel Hygiene; (9) Implementing Agency; (10) Penalty Provision; (11) Separability Clause; (12) Repealing Clause; and (13) Effectivity.
4-pages: Covers: (1) Scope; (2) Definition of Terms; (3) Implementing Agency; (4) Handling Requirements; (5) Penalty Provision; and (6) Effectivity.
75-pages: These Rules and Regulations are promulgated to adopt, support, establish, institutionalize, improve and maintain structures, processes, mechanisms, measures and initiatives that are aimed, directed and designed to: (a) Protect and promote the right to health of the Filipino people; and (b) Help establish and maintain an effective health products regulatory system and undertake appropriate health manpower development and research, responsive to the country's health needs and problems. Officially in circulation since 22 March, 2011.
This Administrative Order is promulgated to provide directives specific to the change in the use of the message or phase "No approved Therapeutic Claim" in all advertisement promotion and / or sponsorship activities or materials concerning Food / Dietary Supplements with the end view of promoting and protecting the consumers' health and welfare and fostering their right to proper information and education to facilitate sound choice.
7-pages: Administrative Order No. 01: Covers: Section 1: Preamble; Section 2: General and Other Considerations, such as Description of the Recombinant-DNA Plant, Description of the Host Plant and its Use as a Food, Description of the Donor Organism(s), Description of the Genetic Modification(s), Characterization of the Genetic Modification(s), Safety Assessment, Potential Accumulation of Substances Significant to Human Health, Use of Antibiotic Resistance Marker Genes; and Section 3: Guidance on Data and Informatiion Sharing.
12-pages: Covers: General Provisions; Implementation Rule; Appendices; Legal Sanctions; Repealing Clause and Effectivity.
9-pages: Covers: (1) Scope; (2) Definition of Terms & Conditions; (3) Slaughterhouse Facilities for the Humane Handling of Food Animals; (4) General Provisions in the Handling of Slaughter Animals; (5) Handling of Injured, Disabled or Suspect Animals, (6) Handling of Escaped Animals; (7) Stunning; (8) Prohibited Acts; (9) Penal Provisions; (10) Non-Exclusivity; (11) Repealing Clause; (12) Separability Clause; and (13) Effectivity.
4-pages: Covers: Part V: Approval Process for the Registration and Importation of Regulated Articles for Direct Use as Food and Feed or for Processing: Section 11: Policy on Registration and Importation for Direct Use as Food and Feed, or for Processing; Section 12: Requirements for the Registratoon and Importation for Direct Use as Food and Feed or for Processing.
2-pages: FDA Circular No. 2013-007: Covers: (I) Rationale; (II) Amendment; (III) Repealing Clause; (IV) Effectivity
7-pages: Covers: (1) Scope; (2) References; (3) Definitions; (4) Essential Composition and Quality Factors; (5) Additives; (6) Contaminants; (7) Pesticide Residues; (8) Hygiene; (9) Labeling; and (10) Methods of Analysis and Sampling.
DRAFT STATUS - 14 June, 2011: 30-pages: This Code provides a guide in the production, storage and handling of salt fermented fish and shrimps and other shellfish (bagoong) necessary to maintain their safety and quality from the receipt of raw materials and ingredients up to distribution.
25-pages: DRAFT STATUS - 14 June, 2011: This standard applies to salt fermented finfish and shrimps, and other shellfish as described in Section 3.1, intended for direct consumption as condiment, seasoning and ingredient for food, and for further processing. This supersedes BFAD Administrative Order No. 18 s. 1970: Regulations Prescribing the Standard of Quality and Identity (Fish or Shrimps) B-4.9 (Condiments, Sauces and Seasonings). This standard does not apply to fish sauce or patis, also produced by salt fermentation.
DRAFT STATUS - 14 June, 2011: 30-pages: This Code provides a guide in the production, storage and handling of salt fermented fish and shrimps and other shellfish (bagoong) necessary to maintain their safety and quality from the receipt of raw materials and ingredients up to distribution.
25-pages: DRAFT STATUS - 14 June, 2011: This standard applies to salt fermented finfish and shrimps, and other shellfish as described in Section 3.1, intended for direct consumption as condiment, seasoning and ingredient for food, and for further processing. This supersedes BFAD Administrative Order No. 18 s. 1970: Regulations Prescribing the Standard of Quality and Identity (Fish or Shrimps) B-4.9 (Condiments, Sauces and Seasonings). This standard does not apply to fish sauce or patis, also produced by salt fermentation.
DRAFT STATUS - 16 February, 2011: This Code is intended to provide guidelines to achieve compliance with the standards for ethnic milk-based confectioneries (pastillas and yema) packed in any suitable container.
DRAFT STATUS - 16 February, 2011: This standard shall apply to ethnic milk-based confectioneries, specifically pastillas (milk candy) and yema (custard candy), in suitable packaging materials or containers.
DRAFT STATUS: 08 February, 2011: 29-page: This Code of Practice is concerned with the receipt of raw materials and ingredients, preparation and processing of ethnic flour-based confectioneries (polvoron, piaya, and barquillos) as defined in this Code. The product shall be prepared from a basic mixture of flour and sugar. This Code is intended to provide guidelines to achieve compliance with the standards for ethnic flour-based confectioneries (polvoron, piaya, and barquillos) packed in any suitable packaging material and/or container.
DRAFT STATUS: 24-Pages: This standard shall apply to ethnic flour-based confectioneries, specifically polvoron, piaya, and barquillos, in suitable packaging materials or containers.
1-page: Covers: (1) Format of Energy Declaration on Front-of-Pack or Principal Display Panel; (2) Presentation of Information inside the Cylindrical Format; (3) Illustration of the Exact Presentation of Front-of-pack Nutrition Declaration.
6-pages: Covers: (1) Scope; (2) Application for Product Registration; (3) Requirements for Application; (4) Procedures in the Evaluation and Processing of Application; (5) Labeling Requirements; (6) Label Claims; (7) Validity of Registration; (8) Schedule of Fees; and (9) Surcharge.
7-pages: (1) Scope; (2) Definitions; Nutrition Labelling; (4) Nutrition Claims; (5) Nutrient Content Claims; (6) Comparative Claims; (7) Health Claims; (8) Claims Related to Dietary Guidelines or Health Diets; and Table of Condition for Nutrient Contents.
12-pages: Covers: (1) Definition of Terms; (2) Scope; (3) Application for and Issuance of VQC/SPS Clearance; (4) Personal and Non-Commercial Importation; (5) General Requirements and Conditions; (6) Additional Measure, Temporary Import Ban and Resumption of Trade; (7) Packing and Labeling Requirements; (8) Border Control Inspection and Clearance and Release Procedures; (9) Post-Border Sanitary Conditions; (10) Confiscation and Disposition; (11) Seizure and Modification; (12) Penalty Provision; (13) Repealing Clause; (14) Separability Clause; and (15) Transitory Provision.
Taheebo is also known as Pau d’arco or Lapacho. It is a herbal ingredient from the inner bark of Tabebuia impetiginosa. The Bureau of Food and Drugs shall require companies importing, selling and distributing taheebo-containing products to amend their products labels.
1-page: This document is a circular on re: A consultative meeting on the labeling of prepackaged processed meat products was held at the
Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) on December 10, 1998 to address certain issues raised by livestock farmers and consumers pertaining to the importation of buffalo meat from India and Kangaroo meat from Australia which are being used as substitute for cattle beef and pork in various types of meat products.
1-page: Amendment to BFAD M.C No. 25, s. 1992 other known as "Additional Labeling Requirment for Food Supplements"
The attached chart "Administrative Guidance; Maximum Permissible Variation In Weight and Volume Expressed in Terms of Allowable Deviation From The Declared Net Content" marked as Annex "A" hereof, has been invariably used by BFAD in determining whether or not the net content declaration in the labeling is correct or truthful.
The Department of Health issues these guidelines to improve the nutritional quality of the nation's food supply. These guidelines shall serve as a basis for the rational addition of nutrient(s) to processed foods, so that the nutritional quality of the Filipino diet can be improved and maintained. These guidelines are intended to avoid over-or-under fortification that may create imbalance in the diet as well as avoid misleading label claims to gain competitive marketing advantage.
1-page: Covers: Processed, semi-processed or raw substances that are intended for human consumption, including beverages, chewing gum and any substance which has been used as an ingredient or a component in the manufacture, preparation or treatment of food.
237-pages: Covers: (I) Objectives; (II) Definition of Terms; (III) General Guidelines; (IV) Format of the Food Additive Listing; (VI) Flavoring Substances; (VII) Review and Revision of the Food Additive Listing; Table 1 - Food Category System; Table 2 - Additives Permitted for Use in Food in General, Unless Otherwise Specified, in Annex to Table 2 in Accordance with GMP; Table 3 - Additives Permitted for Use Under Specified Condiitons in Certain Food Categories or Individual Food Items; Table 4 - List of Food Additives Approved only for Limited Number of Food Categories; Table 5 - List of Food Additives Approvded only for Use as Food Processing; Table 6 - Lists of Mineral Salts, Amino Acids & Vitamin Compounds for Use in Foods; Advisory List of Vitamin Compounds for Use in Fods for Infants, Children and Adults; Special Vitamin Forms; Table 8 - Comments to the Notes found in Table 3; and Table 9 - Food Additives Functional Classes and Sub-classes;
1-page: 3-Monochloropropane-1, 2-diol (MCPD), a by-product during processing of soy-sauce and related products, has been considered a contaminant of significant health concern.
Pursuant to Section 26(a) of Republic Act 3720 and in order to insure the safety and quality of artificial food color additives being imported from various countries, this regulation is hereby promulgated for the information, guidance and strict compliance for all concerned.
25-pages: Covers: (1) Definition of Terms; (2) List of Permissible Food Additives. The food additives are divided into three major groups" (Group 1) Substances that are directly added to food and classified into the following functional categories; (Group 2) Substances that are considered as Processing Aid; and (Group 3) Flavouring Substances. Includes Annex 1: Recommended Levels of Use for some Food Additives;
Covers: Drugs containing cyclamates for non-therapeutic use; Beverages (carbonated or non-carbonated fruit-flavoured drinks) and Canned Fruits & Vegetables.
11-pages: FDA Circular No. 2013-010: This FDA Circular is issued to serve as guidelines for the assessment of microbiological quality of certain processed foods; and help that food manufacturers comply with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
Covers: (1) Milk & Dairy Products; (2) Fats, Oils and Fat Emulsions; (3) Edible Ices, including Sherbet and Sorbet; (4) Confectioneries; (5) Fruits & Vegetables, Nuts & Seeds; (6) Egg & Egg Products; (7) Cereals and Cereal Products; (8) Bakery Products; (9) Ready-to-Eat Savouries; (10) Meat & Meat Products; (11) Fish & Fish Products; (12) Spices, Soups, Sauces, Salads and Protein Products; (13) Beverages; and (14) Food for Infants and Young Children.
2-pages: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adopts the current Codex Alimentarius Commission Standards on Food Contaminants and subsequent amendments or revision thereto as basis in prescribing the maximum allowable limit of food contaminants in processed food.
10-pages: Covers: The BFAD is issued to serve as guidelines for the assessment of microbiological quality of certain processed foods: Milk & Dairy Products; Food for Infants & Young Children; Meat & Poultry; Fish & Shellfish Products; Fruits, Vegetables & Nuts; and Cereal & Ceral / Legume-Based Products;
2-pages (includes surveillance matrix): Manufacturers of Foods & Beverages Using Tin Cans are requested to institute surveillance mechanism of tin toxcity in
9-pages: Joint Department of Health and Department of Agriculture Administrative Order draft documents. Comments closed on 23 March 2012.
13-pages: Covers: (1) Scope; (2) Definition of Terms; (3) Construction in Favour of Protection of Public Health; (4) Regulatory Framework; (5) Residue Verification Program; (6) Sampling; (7) Statistical Consideration; (8) Regulatory Action; (9) Analytical Methods for Residue Control; (10) Penalties and Sanctions; (11) Close Collaboration between Concerned Agencies / Entities; and (12) Repealing Clause.
6-pages: Covers the Veterinary Drug Residues Program to ensure that the feed supplies are safe and food are compliant with Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) and the competence and direct responsibility of the regulation, inspection and certification pertaining to food and feeds; and hygiene throughout the production chain, falls on the Department of Agriculture (DA); (1) Committee on Veterinary Drug Residues Control Program in Food - Composition and Function; (2) Roles of DA Agencies; (3) Roles of the Industry and Private Sector; (4) The National Veterinary Drug Residues Control Program in Foods; (5) Funding; and (6) Penalties.