FDA overhaul pushed to strengthen consumer protection

CEBU, Philippines — Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero has filed a bill seeking to overhaul the country’s product regulatory system by transferring several functions of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to government agencies better suited to regulate specific products.

Escudero filed Senate Bill No. 2310, or the proposed “Product Regulatory System Reform Act,” which aims to streamline government regulation, reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, and strengthen public health and consumer protection through a science-based and risk-informed regulatory framework.

He said the measure seeks to address long-standing overlaps and delays in product regulation that affect both consumers and businesses.

“Product regulation efficiency is critical for promoting public health and safety, and for protecting consumers from trade malpractices and from substandard or hazardous products,” Escudero said in the bill’s explanatory note.

He added that through the establishment and enforcement of product standards and other regulatory measures, the government addresses matters that cannot reasonably be expected of individual consumers, such as verifying product quality and ensuring compliance with technical and manufacturing standards.

Under the proposed measure, the regulation of raw and unprocessed food products would be transferred to the Department of Agriculture, while oversight of processed food, cosmetics, and other consumer goods would be assigned to the Department of Trade and Industry.

Other product categories, he said, may also be transferred to specialized government agencies depending on their risk profile and statutory mandates.

Escudero said the proposed realignment is intended to ensure that regulatory responsibilities are handled by agencies with the appropriate technical expertise and institutional capacity.

The bill also requires stronger inter-agency coordination to prevent duplication of functions and improve the delivery of government services.

He added that updating the country’s regulatory framework has become necessary due to rapid technological advancements, the growing complexity of products, evolving local and global markets, and emerging public health risks.

To ensure a smooth transition, the measure provides that existing permits, registrations, and authorizations will remain valid until they expire, while pending applications and enforcement actions will be completed by the agency that will assume the transferred regulatory function.

Escudero further said the proposed reforms seek to establish “a coherent, adaptive, and efficient regulatory system that protects public health and safety and consumer welfare” while promoting innovation and encouraging investment. — (FREEMAN)