A newly introduced Senate measure seeks to thoroughly restructure the nation’s product regulatory framework by shifting various supervisory duties away from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and redistributing them to other executive departments.
Authored by Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Senate Bill No. 2310—also known as the Product Regulatory System Reform Act—aims to match specific oversight responsibilities with government agencies that hold the relevant specialized knowledge, factoring in the nature and risk level of the regulated items.
Escudero explained that the legislative initiative is designed to streamline administrative procedures, resolve overlapping jurisdictions, and strengthen public safety using an objective, risk-based approach. Furthermore, the bill targets the elimination of chronic bureaucratic red tape that continues to burden the private sector and consumers alike.
In the bill’s explanatory note, the lawmaker highlighted the vital role played by a highly functional regulatory regime:
“Product regulation efficiency is critical for promoting public heath and safety and for protecting consumers from trade malpractices and from substandard or hazardous products.”
He further pointed out:
“Through the establishment and enforcement of product standards and other regulatory measures, the government addresses matters that cannot reasonably be expected of individual consumers, such as verifying product quality, and ensuring compliance with technical and manufacturing standards.”
Proposed Realignment of Powers
If enacted, the draft law would transfer the following regulatory tasks:
- Department of Agriculture (DA): Will take over the supervision of raw and unprocessed agricultural food products.
- Department of Trade and Industry (DTI): Will assume monitoring responsibilities for processed foods, cosmetics, and various other consumer merchandise.
The proposed law also features a flexible mechanism permitting the reallocation of additional product classes to other state organs equipped with the appropriate technical knowledge and mandates, based entirely on the potential hazards associated with those products.
Escudero stated that this strategic reshuffling guarantees that regulatory duties fall under the jurisdiction of agencies best suited to manage them, fostering smoother public service and better inter-agency collaboration.
He pressed for the swift passage of the bill, noting that rapid technological advancements, increasingly complex consumer goods, shifting market dynamics, and modern public health threats make a modernized regulatory framework absolutely necessary.