MISAMIS ORIENTAL (PIA)—The Kalagonoy's Oolong tea, produced by the Blooming Forest Workers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BFWMPC) in barangay Kalagonoy, Gingoog City, is now available in the market after receiving a Certificate of Product Registration from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on September 23, following the acquisition of a License to Operate (LTO) from the FDA last year with the assistance of the Misamis Oriental Provincial Agriculture Office (MisOr PAGRO) Innovation Center.

The Oolong tea, which is a huge hit in Misamis Oriental, is a herbal plant that can only be found in the country, according to the PAGRO Innovation Center.

Before any food products can be manufactured, imported, exported, distributed, marketed, or advertised in the country or abroad, the manufacturer or company must secure FDA registration as required by Republic Act No. 10611 or the Food Safety Act of 2013.

As the regulatory agency, FDA regulates the production, sale, and traffic of products (food, food supplements, drugs, cosmetics, pesticides, medical devices, diagnostics, and veterinary products) entering the Philippine market to protect public health and safety; hence, to comply with the law, it is necessary to obtain the LTO and CPR from the said agency.

Obtaining the necessary paper requirements is essential in increasing the credibility and safety of the products. With the release of both the LTO and the CPR, BFWMPC's Oolong tea is now a legal food product that can be sold in the market because the FDA has assured its safety for consumption and its label is compliant with the trademark requirements stipulated in FDA Administrative Order 2014-0030.

The PAGRO Innovation Division is pleased with the progress of the Oolong Tea product in the food industry, saying that acquiring an FDA license and certificate is not easy, but with BFWMPC's cooperation throughout the process, PAGRO was able to secure the two FDA licenses. (PAGRO MisOr/JAKA/PIA-10)