[ BFAD BUREAU CIRCULAR NO. 2007-010, October 20, 2007 ]
GUIDELINES IN THE INITIAL ISSUANCE AND RENEWAL OF LICENSE TO OPERATE FOR IRON RICE PREMIX MANUFACTURER/REPACKER/IMPORTER AND SETTING FORTH THE STANDARDS FOR IRON RICE PREMIX
<DIV ALIGN=JUSTIFY>I. RATIONALE/BACKGROUND
Republic Act 8976 mandates the fortification of raw rice with iron to produce iron fortified rice as part of the Philippine Food Fortification Program for the elimination of iron deficiency anemia.
Iron fortification of raw rice requires the addition and mixing of an iron rice premix, usually produced from rice either coated or extruded with highly concentrated iron. The addition of iron rice premix to raw rice is dependent on the iron content of the iron rice premix.
These guidelines will be used by BFAD, at the National and the Centers for Health Development (CHD s), for the issuance and renewal of a BFAD license to operate for the production, repacking and importation of iron rice premix to ensure that the premix conforms with the quality standards of BFAD to ensure that the iron rice premix is fit for human consumption and would supply the necessary iron to contribute to anemia reduction as provided for by RA 8976.
II. SCOPE
This Order shall cover person(s) or establishment(s) that manufacture, repack, import iron rice premix used as an ingredient for iron fortification of rice as provided in Republic Act 8976.
Further, this Order shall be applicable as guidance/directive to all Food and Drug Regulatory Officers under the CHD s in conducting evaluation and inspection of iron rice premix manufacture/repacker/importer for the issuance and renewal of License to Operate.
III. DIRECTIVE
In view of the foregoing considerations, this Bureau issues the following directives:
1. The procedures for Licensing and Inspection of iron rice premix manufacturer/repacker/importer shall be consistent and in accordance with current and existing rules and regulations and specific procedures of BFAD. Such procedures shall include existing reporting and approval system and relationship between the CHD and the BFAD.
2. The standards for iron rice premix are hereto attached as Annex A<SUP >*</SUP>.
IV. REPEALING CLAUSE
Provisions of previous issuances which are contrary to those reflected hereon are modified, and/or repealed accordingly.
V. SEPARABILITY
If any provision of this Order is declared as unconstitutional or not valid, the rest of the provisions hereon shall still subsist given their effect in entirely.
VI. EFFECTIVITY
This Order shall be effective within fifteen (15) days after publication.
Adopted: 20 Oct. 2007
(SGD.) PROF. LETICIA-BARBARA B. GUTIERREZ, M.S
<I>Director IV</I>
<I>Director IV</I>
<HR ALIGN="LEFT" WIDTH="60%" SIZE="1" NOSHADE><SUP >*</SUP><I> Text Available at Office of the National Administrative Register, U.P. Law Complex, Diliman, Quezon City</I>.</DIV>