Administrative Order No. 37, s. 1979 provides that imported food products are required to be registered with the Bureau of Food and Drugs prior to their distribution in the domestic market.

Their exist incidences of rampant importation of unregistered pre-packed food products due to the failure of the importers to present or comply with the necessary documents from the manufacturer as required by the Bureau of Food and Drugs, among others.

In the interest of consumer protection importers are hereby required first to submit an application for registration conforming to BFAD's checklist of requirements for registration of food products (attached). Importers shall only be allowed to import after all the documentary requirements have been accomplished and BFAD Certificate of Product Registration (CPR) has been issued.

The Bureau of Customs and other government agencies, including the Special Economic Zones, are requested not to allow establishments or person to import pre-packed food products without proof that the same has been issued a BFAD CPR.

The Food and Drug Regulation Officers concerned are hereby directed to ensure the implementation of this circular.

This Circular shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 16 Aug. 1999

(SGD.) WILLIAM D. TORRES, PH.D.
Director