Manila: Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero has introduced a legislative proposal aimed at overhauling the country's product regulatory framework by reallocating certain responsibilities of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to other agencies with mandates that are more aligned with the products they regulate.
According to Philippines News Agency, Senate Bill No. 2310, known as the Product Regulatory System Reform Act, proposes the adoption of a science-based and risk-informed regulatory framework. This would involve redistributing oversight duties among government agencies based on product type and risk profile. The goal is to enhance efficiency in product regulation to promote public health and safety while protecting consumers from trade malpractices and substandard products.
The bill suggests transferring the regulation of raw and unprocessed food and agricultural products to the Department of Agriculture. Meanwhile, oversight of processed food, cosmetics, and other consumer products would be shifted to the Department of Trade and Industry. Additionally, other products could be reassigned to appropriate regulatory agencies according to their technical expertise, statutory mandates, and institutional capacity.
The proposed legislation emphasizes coordination among regulatory bodies to avoid functional overlaps and streamline public services. Existing permits and registrations would remain valid until their expiration dates, and any pending applications and enforcement actions would be handled by the agency taking over the functions to ensure continuity in service.
Escudero highlighted that this initiative is designed to improve consumer protection and reduce regulatory bottlenecks. He noted that the proposal addresses rapid technological advancements, increasingly complex products, evolving markets, and emerging public health risks. The overarching aim is to establish a coherent, adaptive, and efficient regulatory system that safeguards public health and consumer welfare, while also encouraging innovation and investment.
