ILOILO City – Although the government is mandated to protect consumers, food safety is a shared responsibility.
Dr. Pedro Dumaraos Jr., food safety focal lead of Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Assistant Secretary for Visayas Hansel Didulo, stressed this during a food caravan in this city to promote awareness on Republic Act 10611 or the Food Safety Act of 2013.
“The food we consume everyday should be safe,” said Dumaraos.
According to Didulo, an Ilonggo, his office is going around the country to make people aware of the law the implementing rules and regulations of which were only completed in 2015.
Dumaraos urged consumers to report violations of the law, such as in food handling.
He appealed to food retailers and vendors to ensure that the products they offer are safe for human consumption.
The Food Safety Act of 2013 ensures food safety “from farm-to-fork” or from the production, handling, selling, preparation, and up to the table.
The DA and Department of Health are the lead agencies, in partnership with local government units, in ensuring the implementation of the law, said Didulo.
“The law provides penal sanctions for any violations,” he added.
The one-day food safety caravan at a hotel here was attended by Iloilo City stakeholders to include, among others, the City Veterinary Office, City Health Office, market vendors, and other concerned national government agencies.
Among others under the law, it is unlawful for any person to:
* handle or manufacture for sale any food or food product which is not in conformity with an applicable food quality or safety standard
* produce or handle for sale or import banned food or food products
* adulterate, mislabel or falsely advertise any food product which misleads consumers
* operate a food business without the appropriate authorization (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)
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