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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today signed into law Republic Act 9711 otherwise known as the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) Act of 2009.
The FDA Act of 2009 is said to complement RA 9502, or the Universally Accessible, Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008.
It renames the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) to FDA and strengthens its regulatory powers, resources and capabilities to efficiently and expeditiously perform its mandate.
Under Republic Act. No. 9711, FDA will have the powers that BFAD currently does not have. It can order the ban, recall and withdrawal of health products that cause or has the potential to cause death, serious illness or injury to people. It can also do the same to products that make deceptive claims.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, who attended the signing ceremony, noted that the new law also authorizes FDA to retain all income in addition to its annual budget, thus providing the agency the resources to meet operational cost and to fund the purchase of laboratory equipment and increase its manpower resources.
Duque added that under the law. FDA can seize without hearing or court order health products found to be in violation of the laws or rules and regulations pending further proceedings.
Another salient feature of the law is the establishment of modern and complete testing laboratory facilities in Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, apart from the existing central office laboratory, which will be equipped with the necessary and appropriate provision of the latest laboratory equipment and procedures. This assures the delivery of FDA services to its clients at the shortest time possible anywhere in the country.
Rep. Arthur Pingoy, Jr., chair of the House committee on health, said President Arroyo's signing into law of the FDA Act of 2009 is "one of the greatest legacies of the President to the Filipino people."
"The BFAD strengthening bill has long been a priority legislative measure of Malacanang aimed at protecting and promoting the right to health of the Filipino people through an effective regulatory system of all health products responsive to the country's health needs and problems," Pingoy said.
He added that a stronger FDA will make the country more effective in monitoring and ensuring the entry of quality, affordable food and medicines in the country.
Without a tougher and stronger FDA, Pingoy noted, the implementation of the Cheap Medicines Law would not be effective and complete, as it is a necessary component to it. (PND)
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