FDA urges consumers to report erring health products

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FDA urges consumers to report erring health products

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

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MANILA - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is calling on the public to help in its fight against erring health products. 

FDA Director General Dr. Samuel Zarate said they have been intensifying their crackdown against the proliferation of such products online especially cosmetics. 

Violative health products pertain to either counterfeit or unregistered products. 

“Mayroon naman po kaming tinatawag na FYI, For Your Information, sa mga online shop that ‘this product is violative, take it down’ and sumusunod naman po sila. Pero ang ginagawa ng iba, sa ganoon kadali magkaroon ng online account, eh wala pang alas-kuwatro maglalagay na naman po sila,” Zacate said in an interview. 

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However, the FDA chief emphasized that their agency cannot do the entire work alone.

“We have to admit the system, there is no perfect system. But we will always try to do it for the efficiency of the government services. So, it’s not only the police power of the FDA but also the partnership with the consumer,” he explained.

“Kinakailangan po natin na hindi lang po kami ito, nananawagan ako sa mga kababayan natin na just report it to us, kasi talamak talaga, ma’am, lalong-lalo na sa cosmetics, naglipana iyan sa online shops ‘no,” Zacate added.

He also noted that the FDA has streamlined their process on seizing violative health products under its “Oplan Katharos”.

Based on the FDA’s website, Oplan Katharos “is tasked with developing and implementing guidelines for the proper handling, storage, and disposal of seized health products.”

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It also provides updates on their website such as the number of seized violative products per category — cosmetic, drug, medical devices, and food. 

Zacate urges both online platforms and consumers to be vigilant against violative health products.

“Ang panawagan ko po sa online shopping, once we have it, at least man lang po ay tandaan ninyo naman po ‘yung produkto para hindi naman po paulit-ulit ang ginagawa namin. And at the same time, sa mga consumers po, be vigilant enough ‘no, kasi pinag-uusapan dito ay ‘yung kalusugan ninyo na,” he stressed.

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