SECURING an accreditation from Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will open up more opportunities for the eight hot chili enterprises based in Davao Oriental, an official said.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Davao Oriental trade promotions officer Domingo S. Cruz Jr., who at the Davao Business Forum at Dermpath at SM City Davao Tuesday, said having no FDA accreditation on food products will make it hard for the SMEs to penetrate the market.
The SMEs that are now being assisted by the DTI 11 to help secure a FDA accreditation are coming from Baganga, Cateel, and Boston in Davao Oriental.
In some instances, Cruz said the enterprises are not able to take part in trade fairs, sell in some commercial establishments, or export.
Currently, DTI 11 is prioritizing the applications of Ayana's Siling Kinamayo, El Tigre of M.A.M.A. Chili Trees Farmers Association, and Katumbaw Sili of the Food Processors Association of Taytayan.
Cruz said the nutritional facts of the three have already been finished and will now proceed for a bacteriology test. All tests are done by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
The other enterprises whose FDA certifications are now being processed are Edil's Dumang Products, Delia's Chili Products, and Dory's Dumang Products.
Cruz said the certification will open more markets and cater to the increasing demand.
He said they are eyeing to expand the hot chili plantations to 400 hectares to address the market demand. The province has 30 hectares of chili plantations.
They are also eyeing to export to Asean or BIMP-Eaga nations.
They are hoping that the certification will be issued this year so that they will be able to sell the products of the enterprises in other commercial establishments.