Food safety and sanitation are of utmost importance in the food industry. In the Philippines, several laws and regulations have been implemented to ensure that food businesses comply with the standards set for food safety and sanitation. These regulations are in place to protect consumers from the risks associated with consuming contaminated food products.

In this blog, we will discuss the requirements that food businesses in the Philippines must comply with to ensure food safety and sanitation.

Registration and Licensing

All food businesses in the Philippines are required to register and secure a license from the local government unit where they operate. This requirement is mandated by the Food Safety Act of 2013 and is enforced by the local health authorities.

The registration process involves filling out an application form and submitting it along with the necessary documents, such as business permits, sanitary permits, and other relevant certifications.

Food Safety Program

All food businesses must have a written food safety program that includes hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) principles. The program must be based on the Philippine National Standards for Food (PNS).

HACCP is a preventive approach to food safety that identifies potential hazards in the food production process and implements control measures to prevent these hazards from occurring. It is a systematic approach that involves analyzing each step of the food production process to identify potential hazards, implementing controls to prevent these hazards, and monitoring the effectiveness of these controls.

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)

All food businesses must adhere to GMP, which includes proper sanitation, hygiene, and storage practices. GMP is a set of guidelines that outlines the best practices for the production, handling, and storage of food products.

GMP requires food businesses to maintain clean and sanitary premises and equipment. They must also have facilities for handwashing and waste disposal. GMP also includes proper training of personnel on food handling and hygiene practices.

Food Labeling

All pre-packaged food items must have proper labeling that includes the product name, ingredients, net weight, and expiration date. Food labeling is an important component of food safety, as it provides consumers with the necessary information to make informed decisions about the food products they consume.

Food Premises and Equipment

Food businesses must have clean and sanitary food premises and equipment. This includes regular cleaning and disinfection of equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces. Food premises must also have proper ventilation and lighting to maintain a safe and hygienic environment.

Personnel Hygiene

All food handlers must practice proper hygiene, including wearing clean and appropriate attire, hairnets, and hand gloves. Personnel must also undergo regular medical check-ups to ensure that they are free from any infectious diseases that could contaminate the food products they handle.

Food Inspections

Regular inspections are conducted by local health authorities to ensure that food businesses are complying with the food safety regulations. These inspections are conducted to verify that food premises and equipment are clean and sanitary, personnel are practicing proper hygiene, and that food products are properly labeled and stored.

Recall Procedures

In the event of a food safety issue, food businesses must have recall procedures in place to immediately remove contaminated products from the market. This is an important component of food safety, as it ensures that consumers are protected from consuming potentially harmful food products.

Conclusion

Food safety and sanitation are critical components of the food industry. In the Philippines, food businesses are required to comply with several laws and regulations to ensure that food products are safe for consumption. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations can result in fines, penalties, or even closure of the food business. Therefore, it is important for food businesses to prioritize food safety and sanitation to protect their customers and their business.

Fast food has become a staple diet for busy people especially when time is not enough for food preparation. What could be worse than sinking your teeth into your favorite food, unperturbed to the fact that it is crawling with germs? You have already consumed and digested your meal before discovering that there is an additional “ingredient”, which is, without a doubt, a recipe for disaster. A person will more likely choose to starve to death than eat contaminated food. There have been several complaints about food poisoning and unsafe food handling practices. While some complainants are already well-aware of the steps to take, others still need guidance so their complaints will not end up falling on deaf ears. 

The Republic Act No. 10611 otherwise known as the “Food Safety Act of 2013” strengthens food safety regulatory system in our country. The law provides protection to consumers so they will have access to local foods and food products that have undergone thorough and rigid inspection. 

Under Section 3 of the Republic Act, the objectives are as follows:

“(a) Protect the public from food-borne and water-borne illnesses and unsanitary, unwholesome, misbranded or adulterated foods;

(b) Enhance industry and consumer confidence in the food regulatory system; and

(c) Achieve economic growth and development by promoting fair trade practices and sound regulatory foundation for domestic and international trade.”

The food safety regulatory system combines various processes to ensure that food safety standards are met. Food safety standards refer to the formal documents, which contain the food requirements that the food processors need to comply with so human health is safeguarded. These safety standards are implemented by law and authorities. Some of the processes that are under the regulatory system include inspection, testing, data collection, monitoring and other activities, which are carried out by various food safety regulatory agencies. 

Under Section No. 37, these acts are prohibited:

(a) Produce, handle or manufacture for sale, offer for sale, distribute in commerce, or import into the Philippines any food or food product which is not in conformity with an applicable food quality or safety standard promulgated in accordance with this Act.

(b) Produce, handle or manufacture for sale, offer for sale, distribute in commerce, or import into the Philippines any food or food product which has been declared as banned food product;

(c) Refuse access to pertinent records or entry of inspection officers of the FSRA;

(d) Fail to comply with an order relating to notifications to recall unsafe products;

(e) Adulterate, misbrand, mislabel, falsely advertise any food product which misleads the consumers and carry out any other acts contrary to good manufacturing practices;

(f) Operate a food business without the appropriate authorization;

(g) Connive with food business operators or food inspectors, which will result in food safety risks to the consumers; and

(h) Violate the implementing rules and regulations of this Act