On October 27, 2022, the Philippines FDA announced to amend FDA Circular 2021-028 entitled Guidelines for Prepackaged Processed Food Products Containing Trans-Fatty Acids (TFA). The Circular aims to eliminate the industrially-produced TFA in the Philippines food supply chain by 18 June 2023.
This Circular covers manufacturers, traders, importers-distributors of raw materials, ingredients, and prepackaged processed food products containing industrially-produced TFA intended for the Philippine market.
Major amendments include:
For prepackaged processed foods with PHO and industrially-produced TFA content whose concentration is more than 2g per 100g or ml, they are newly included to the scope of products whose manufacture, trading, importation, distribution, and sale shall be prohibited.
When applying for product registration for any imported prepackaged processed food product containing TFA and hydrogenated oil, recent certificate of analysis (within 12 months from the date of application) of the finished product issued by the country of origin is also acceptable now.
When applying for product registration of prepackaged processed food containing naturally-occurred TFA whose concentration is more than 2g TFA per 100g or ml of the total fat, recent certificate of analysis (within 12 months from date of application) showing that the TFA is naturally-occurred and/or obtained from ruminant animal should be submitted.
During the transition period, prepackaged processed food products containing TFA with valid certificate of product registration (CPR) shall be applied for initial CPR complying with the provisions of this Circular. Applications for CPR renewal or amendment of such products shall be denied.
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