Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are stepping up the efforts to stop the entry of unauthorized goods in the country. The 2 agencies are scheduled to meet and discuss measures on how to improve the monitoring system against prohibited food items and products. BOC and FDA have been partners in pursuing their common goal to prevent the entry of banned and unregistered products in the local market. The FDA notifies the BOC of the imported goods that require tight monitoring so these wouldn't slip out of the ports for sale and distribution. However the FDA wants changes to their database sharing. In a letter addressed to the BOC Nemia T. Getes OIC of the Customs Liaison Unit under the FDA Operations Cluster said the BOC needs to inform the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) of all imported sugar, wheat, flour and cooking oil to their release. She is scheduled to meet Sevilla together with Atty. Polig Jr., Atty. Cirunay, Atty. Pagayunan and Christine Asetre from FDA. The agenda of the meeting included the importations covered by the Food Fortification Law, the proliferation of fake Certificate of Product Registration and the Memorandum of Agreement signed by BOC and FDA.
