CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In strengthening the implementation of the Food Safety Act of 2013, otherwise known as RA 10611, the Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) called for a meeting with its food safety regulatory agencies (FSRAs) on June 13, in this city.
DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations Cora A. Dumayaca stressed the mandate of the Food Safety Act to maintain a farm-to-fork food safety regulatory system that ensures a high level of food safety.
She further explained the need to streamline the activities and functions of the regulatory agencies to the local government units (LGUs).
Dumayaca cited the need to update information from FSRAs and policy-related agenda to enhance knowledge and capacitate its members.
The FSRA is responsible for the development and enforcement of food safety standards and regulations for food in the primary production and postharvest stages of the supply chain.
The FSRA of DA-attached agencies and bureaus include the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Bureau of Animal Industry-National Veterinary Quarantine Services (BAI-NVQS), Bureau of Plant Industry–Satellite and Pesticide Analytical Laboratory (BPI-SPAL), Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), National Dairy Authority (NDA), National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), and National Food Authority (NFA).
The Food Safety Act supports the country’s food safety regulatory system to protect consumer health, aside from making it easier for local food and food products to access markets.
A special order was crafted to fortify the implementation of the Regional Food Safety Committee (RFSC) composed of the FSRAs.
DA-10’s Regulatory Division facilitated the activity where members were apprised of the member agencies’ activity updates aside from discussing issues related to its functions.#(ATC)
