Noy signs law on consumer health protection

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino recently signed a law that aims to protect consumer health and facilitate market access of local food and food products.

Republic Act No. 10611, or the Food Safety Act of 2013, is designed to strengthen the food safety regulatory system to combat food trade malpractices and substandard or hazardous products.

It also seeks to ensure “a high level of food safety, promotes fair trade and advances the global competitiveness of Philippine foods and food products.”

The law has underscored the need to protect the public from “food-borne and water-borne illnesses and unsanitary, unwholesome, misbranded or adulterated foods” and to “enhance industry and consumer confidence in the food regulatory system.”

With this law, the government expects to achieve economic growth and development by promoting fair trade and practices and sound regulatory foundation for domestic and international trade.

Under the law, concerned government agencies, particularly the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Health (DOH), were given their respective duties and responsibilities.

Concerned government agencies shall establish the policies and procedures for the country’s participation in the Codex.

Codex was established by the Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization of the United Nations in 1963 to develop harmonized international food standards, codes of practice, and guidelines to protect the consumer and ensure fair practices in the food trade.

The law states that the Philippines shall incorporate Codex standards into national regulations.