(NAR) VOL. 15 NOS. 1-2 / JANUARY - MARCH 2004
- Fortification shall mean addition of micronutrients to staple foods such as rice, sugar, cooking oil, flour and salt based on the recommended standard set by BFAD-DOH. This also means the addition of micronutrient to processed foods at levels above the natural state.
- Micronutrients are nutrients needed by the body in small amount but must be supplied.
- Staples shall refer to food items that are widely and regularly consumed by the general public. These include rice, sugar, cooking oil, flour and salt.
- Diamond Sangkap Pinoy Seal shall refer to the seal of good nutrition quality that will be awarded as an incentive to BFAD registered staple manufacturer who will fortify their products according to standards.
- Food Manufacturers refers to millers, refiners, processors of food, repackers and importers.
- BFAD means Bureau of Food and Drugs
- DOH means Department of Health
- RDA means Recommended Dietary Allowance
- CHD means Center for Health Development
- LGU means Local Government Units
- NFA means National Food Authority
- SRA means Sugar Regulatory Administration
- PCA means Philippine Coconut Authority
1. rice with iron
2. sugar with Vitamin A
3. cooking oil with vitamin A
4. flour with vitamin A and iron
5. salt with iodine
Only when the levels of fortification are met shall the product be claimed as "fortified with".
1. Duly accomplished application forms
2. A certified true copy of LTO issued by the BFAD
3. Results of product analysis of vitamin A, iron and iodine from a BFAD recognized laboratory
4. Sample of label with the Diamond Sangkap Pinoy Seal
1. The food company applying for the Diamond Sangkap Pinoy Seal shall submit all the documentary requirements to BFAD.
2. Applicants should pay a processing fee of P500.00 to BFAD cashier for every application.
3. Upon receipt of the application, BFAD conducts a desk review to check completeness of the documentary requirements.3.1 If documentary requirements are incomplete, the BFAD informs applicant thru a notice of deficiency and defers conduct of further evaluation until company submits complete requirements.
4. BFAD conducts a plant inspection to evaluate compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) and Quality Control (QC) system for product fortification if documentary requirements are complete.4.1 If LTO was issued earlier in compliance with these two requirements. BFAD may choose to forgo plant inspection.
4.2 It may also choose to forego the plant inspection for those receiving government assistance for the development of fortification technology, provided that a certification of assistance issued by the government concern is submitted with the application papers. For rice fortification, BFAD submits to NFA the documentary requirements for NFA evaluation.
5. BFAD conducts a plant visit (if needed), using the checklist on the fortification process as provided in Annex 1 of the IRR of RA 8976.
6. BFAD makes a final evaluation of the applicant based on the plant visit (if done) and review of documentary requirements.
1. If applicant is approved, BFAD prepares the Letter of Diamond Sangkap Seal Award and Diamond Seal of Certificate of Acceptance for the signature of the Secretary of Health.
2. If application is disapproved, BFAD informs the applicant thru a letter or notice of deficiencies/notice of denial. The letter of disapproval/reconsideration contains instruction on appropriate corrective actions.
3. Manufacturers of disapproved application may apply again for the seal after instituting corrective action required.
4. Compliant food manufacturer will be provided with a Diamond Sangkap Pinoy Seal Certificate of Acceptance and a Letter of Award.
5. These companies shall display the Diamond Sangkap Pinoy Seal issued by the Department of Health in the plant site.
6. The same companies shall use Diamond Sangkap Pinoy Seal on the approved product label.
- Order the recall of the products declared/found as mislabeled fortified staples
- Order the correction of labeling of fortified foods staples
- Include in the list of non-compliant food manufacturer for publication
- Impose administrative fines provided for in RA 8976 and RA 8172
- Suspend or cancel LTO of the manufacturing firm
- Suspend or cancel the use of the Diamond Sangkap Pinoy Seal.