It is declared as a policy of the State pursuant to Article II, Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution to protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them; and in Section 12, Article XIII of the 1987 constitution to establish and maintain an effective food and drug regulatory system and undertaken appropriate health manpower development and research, responsive to the country ™s health needs and problems.

In the implementation of the foregoing policies, Section 15 (2), Chapter 4, Title IX, Book IV of the Administrative Code of 1987 authorizes the Food and Drug Administration to act as the policy formulation and sector monitoring arm of the Secretary of Health on matters pertaining to food, drugs, traditional medicines, cosmetics and household products containing hazardous substances, and to formulate rules and regulations and standards in accordance with Republic Act No. 3720 as amended by Executive Order No. 175 and more recently Republic Act No. 9711, and other allied laws for their proper and effective enforcement.

On the other hand, the Joint Department of Agriculture and Department of Health Administrative Order (DA-AO NO. 2005-001 and DOH-AO NO. 2005-0028) expressly affirm that œPhilippine accession to GATT-WTO and various bilateral and multilateral trade agreements requires compliance with international trade regulations, including the harmonization of national food standards with international food standard-setting body as the Codex Alimentarius Commission.  The harmonization of standards, food in particular, is generally viewed as a contributory factor to the protection of consumer health.

DIRECTIVE

Thus, consistent with the effective implementation of the foregoing policies, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the Department of Health, hereby adopts the current Codex Alimentarius Commission Standards on Food Contaminants and subsequent amendments or revision thereto as basis in prescribing the maximum allowable limit of food contaminants in processed food. The above initiative shall be used, in addition to and in so far as it is consistent, with relevant existing national laws and rules and regulations implementing the same.

This Circular shall take effect immediately.

(SGD.) NAZARITA T. TACANDONG, RPh, MPA
  Acting Director IV