A councilor has proposed for the establishment of a body that will regulate the food industry.
Councilor Mary Joselle Villafuerte, chair of the committee on health, filed the proposal to also help food producers market their products.
Passed under first reading during the regular session Tuesday, the proposed resolution states that the system is a program aimed at providing higher level of food safety, protection of human life and health in the production and consumption of food.
It also covers the protection of consumers’ interests through fair practices in the food trade as among its objectives.
“Operators of businesses involving food shall ensure that their products and services satisfy the requirements of the Food Safety Regulatory System relevant to their activities in the food chain supply,” the proposed resolution stated.
Also, control systems will be put in place to prevent, eliminate or reduce consumer risks.
Villafuerte noted the need for the resolution because the national food safety strategy has plenty of overlaps and is highly fragmented since several government agencies and bureaus implement it.
“This has resulted in more often reactive rather than pre-emptive government response to food borne illness outbreaks and recalls of substandard quality products in the market,” the resolution said.
