Manila: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has destroyed 18,000 kilograms of illegal and unsafe health products valued at PHP5.7 million. In a news release Monday, the FDA said a disposal operation was held from Oct. 15 to 18 at the Biñan Disposal Facility in Laguna as part of the FDA's Oplan Katharos program. Its Regulatory Enforcement Unit led the initiative to eliminate illegal health products deemed unsafe for consumers by removing these items from circulation. Oplan Katharos, now on its second year, is tasked with the development and implementation of guidelines for the proper handling, storage and disposal of seized health products. On Oct. 4, the FDA said its official website would include comprehensive data on counterfeit and unregistered products seized by Oplan Katharos from January to August 2024. This new feature aims to promote transparency and provide stakeholders with vital information, including statistics on confiscated counterfeit and unregistered products. Source: Philippines New s agency