The FSRAs and LGUs convene to ensure the food safety regulatory system in NorMin. 

 

LANAO DEL NORTE — To strengthen the food safety regulatory system in the region, the Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-10), through its Regulatory Division, conducted an orientation on Food Safety Regulation on September 26 for the said province in Lala town.

The orientation, which centered on Republic Act No. 10611 or “The Food Safety Act of 2013”, aimed to apprise local government units (LGUs) to be involved in the advocacy in protecting the public from food-borne illnesses.

As stipulated in Article 5 Section 16.4, the DA-Food Safety Regulatory Agencies (FSRAs) are tasked with enforcing official measures to ensure that foods adhere to regulations concerning consumer health, protection, and trade.

The event brought together FSRAs, including the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), overseeing aquaculture products and the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), focusing on plant-based foods.

In addition, the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) participated as the FSRA for meat products, alongside the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA), which regulates pesticides and fertilizers used in both plant and animal food production.

The activity was also attended by the National Dairy Authority (NDA), another agency under the DA with food safety regulatory functions, focusing on milk production and post-harvest handling.

Thus, each agency, along with the DA-10’s Regulatory Division, discussed their regulatory functions and scope in terms of food safety services and activities to coordinate with LGUs for the harmonization of food safety act implementation.

The LGUs are then expected to supervise within their jurisdictions the enforcement of food safety regulatory system, along with inspecting and ensuring that businesses and facilities comply.

Overall, the FSRAs and the LGUs jointly control food safety risks in the food supply chain.

Through the DA-10’s commitment to direct all provinces for food safety regulatory system in the region, a similar event was held earlier, September 25, in Tubod, Lanao del Norte, for Misamis Occidental with added participation of the National Food Authority (NFA) and Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) as FSRAs for rice and coconut, respectively.# (BJCE/Photo supplied)