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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Senate bill pushes for FDA overhaul to better protect consumers

Senate bill pushes for FDA overhaul to better protect consumers

Published Jul 15, 2026 02:14 pm

At A Glance

  • Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero, in filng Senate Bill No. 2310 or the proposed "Product Regulatory System Reform Act," said it is necessary to transfer some functions of the FDA to agencies that are better aligned with the nature and risks of the products they oversee.
A bill seeking to overhaul the country’s product regulatory system by transferring several functions of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to other government agencies has been filed in the Senate.
Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, in filng Senate Bill No. 2310 or the proposed “Product Regulatory System Reform Act," said it is necessary to transfer some functions of the FDA to agencies that are better aligned with the nature and risks of the products they oversee.
Escudero said the SB No. 2310 primarily seeks to streamline government regulation, reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks and strengthen public health and consumer protection through a science-based, risk-informed framework across agencies. 
The measure also seeks to address long-standing overlaps and delays that affect both consumers and businesses.
“Product regulation efficiencyis critical for promoting public heath and safety and for protecting consumers from trade malpractices and from substandard or hazardous products,” Escudero said in the bil’s explanatory note.
“Through the establishment and enforcement of product standards and other regulatory measures, the government addresses matters that cannot reasonably be expected of individual consumers, such as verifying product quality, and ensuring compliance with technical and manufacturing standards,” he said.
Under the proposed law, raw and unprocessed food products shall be transferred to the Department of Agriculture (DA), while processed food, cosmetics, and other consumer goods shall fall under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). 
Other products could, likewise, be reassigned to specialized agencies depending on their risk profile and statutory mandates. 
Escudero stressed that the realignment seeks to ensure that regulatory functions are exercised by agencies with the appropriate technical expertise and institutional capacity.
The measure also mandates inter-agency coordination to avoid duplication and improve public service delivery. 
The senator said passage of the bill is urgent due to the “rapid technological advancements, increasing complexity of products, evolution of local and global markets, and the emergence of public health risks.”

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