19 February 2004 – Saying that it is one of the priorities of the Philippine Government to help Philippine products enter foreign markets, Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Rafael E. Seguis said that the Department will provide all the necessary assistance to ensure timely and proper access for products that have not met US Food and Drug Agency standards.  He added that he did not believe, at this point, that there is any issue of non-trade barriers.

“We intend to work with the private sector and with other government agencies, particularly the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Agriculture in appealing the decision by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to bar about 300 Philippine products from sale in America for failing to meet U.S. food and drug regulatory standards,” the Acting Secretary said.

On the issue that the USFDA action constitutes a non-trade barrier, Acting Secretary Seguis said that “As a country that is committed to liberal and fair trade, we are always on the look out for trade and non-trade barriers that might be put up against our products.  But at this time, there is no reason for us to believe that the USFDA action is anything of this sort,” Acting Secretary Seguis said.

He said, however, that a lot of the burden of compliance is on the manufacturers and exporters themselves. “In cases where there is a clear need for the product to comply with reasonable standards, and the solution is to improve the label of the product or replace an ingredient, then the manufacturers and the exporters should take the appropriate measures in order for their products to comply,’’ he said.

“We are in constant touch with our Embassy in Washington and will be very active in helping the private sector address this issue,” the Acting Secretary added. END.