Online selling of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test kits is prohibited, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reminded the public.
“These COVID-19 test kits with FDA special certification are strictly for medical professional use and not intended for personal use," the agency said in its advisory no. 2021-0434.
The FDA said that this included all types of FDA certified COVID-19 test kits: reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), antibody, and antigen based.
"The FDA is mandated to protect the health and safety of the Filipino people by regulating the manufacture, importation, distribution, sale, offering for sale, advertisement, and promotion of health products including in-vitro diagnostic medical devices in the country," the agency said, citing the Republic Act No. 9711 or the Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009.
FDA Director General Rolando Enrique Domingo directed all of the agency’s regional field offices and regulatory enforcement units to “conduct exhaustive monitoring of online platforms.” He also instructed the FDA regional offices and units to “pursue and implement immediate regulatory and enforcement actions as warranted."