Press Release
August 31, 2011

ANGARA: FOOD SAFETY BOARD IS KEY TO BETTER EXPORTS

Senator Edgardo J. Angara reiterated the necessity of a food regulatory board to oversee all food products in the Philippines, especially those intended for export.

"This is one way to ensure that Philippine-made products are welcomed into other countries without fear of contamination or sub-par processing," he said in a recent Food Safety conference supported by the Department of Health.

The veteran legislator stressed that the Philippines must comply with international standards of food safety such as the regulations set by the International Food Safety Authorities Network or INFOSAN--a joint initiative between the World Health Organization and the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

"Food safety authorities around the world must work together to combat the new strains of food-borne microorganisms being discovered. Likewise, the country should join this international network, so that other member countries do not question our exports," he explained.

Angara authored a bill which seeks to establish a national Food Safety Regulation Coordinating Board. This will institutionalize coordination among regulatory bodies in charge of food safety namely the Department of Agriculture, Department of Health and Department of Interior and Local Government.

Senate Bill No. 2805, known as the Food Safety Act of 2011, was filed in May of this year. Entitled "An Act to Strengthen the Food Safety Regulatory System in the Country to Protect Consumer Health and Facilitate Market Access of Local Foods and Food Products, and for Other Purposes", this bill has been referred to the Committee on Trade and Commerce as well as the Committee on Health and Demography.

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