Saturday, July 21, 2007 Only 20% of food manufacturers comply with food standards By Gil Alfredo B. Severino
BUREAU of Food and Drugs (Bfad)-Negros Regulation Officer Maricon Dimatulac deplored to the fact that majority of food and confectionery (sweet delicacies) in the country do not comply with the minimum requirements of Bfad
This is tantamount to violating Republic Act (RA) 3720, otherwise known as Food, Drugs and Cosmetic Device Act, Dimatulac said.
Dimatulac stressed that RA 3720 is patterned after the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) of America as many of our confectioneries, medicines and cosmetics are imported.
"Admittedly, minimum requirement stipulated in RA 3720 is voluminous but its compliance is to protect the public's health," she added.
Domatulac explained, "Among the requirements of RA 3720 is the microbiological testing of ingredients, of which this White Rabbit from China underwent and as claimed also by its manufacturer to have also conducted in China."
Dimatulac warned that Bfad qualified products have a sticker marked "FR", which means food registered or "DR", which refers to drug registered for medicines.
Meanwhile, Dimatulac stressed that the locally made White Rabbit candies are safe unlike those made in China.
Until the next round of Bfad national advisory is published, the public must refrain from buying the Chinese imported White Rabbit, she said.
