DAVAO CITY — The Department of Health in the Davao Region said today it was gathering evidence against the manufacturers of food supplements who make therapeutic claims of the products in their advertisements.
At the Kapehan sa Dabaw on Monday held at Pizza Hut of SM City Davao Arnold Alindada, food and drug officer of the Bureau of Food and Drug said a team from the information unit of the Department of Health (DOH XI) has started regionwide the gathering and monitoring of these therapeutic claims since last year.
The department he said was prompted to go into intensive monitoring because of several complaints from consumers and even physicians on the alleged therapeutic claim of one of these products.
There were complaints lodged by relatives of patients who took the food supplement that made their condition worse, Alindada said.
A consultation has been made among manufacturers last month that was attended also by several distributors where they initially agreed that any advertisements that the manufacturers or distributors of food supplements will put out must first pass a team from the DOH for assessment and review.
Although nothing is final about the agreement, Alindada said they are still finalizing such move and they will conduct another round of consultation even as he said that both manufacturers and distributors agreed to the proposal.
Meanwhile, Alindada also said manufacturers can only proceed with their operation when they have their license to operate (LTO) and must also possess the certificate of product registration (CPR).
The establishments he said are subjected to monitoring to check whether they follow good manufacturing practices (GMP).
The GMP would mean products are subjected to laboratory test as well as the raw materials to prove that it is safe for human consumption.
BFAD classifies the establishment as large manufacturer when it has the facility, the building or processing plant and employs over 50 workers.
The Davao Region has three large manufacturers namely MI Herbal, MG Pharmaceuticals and MG Miracle. (PIA XI/prixdbanzon) (davaotoday.com)
