QUEZON CITY, February 24, 2022 – The Department of Agriculture (DA) – Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) through the Fertilizer Regulations Division (FRD) called to increase fertilizer nutrient content for product registration and announced new policies to improve national and regional regulatory service processes.

In pursuit of continuous fertilizer product quality standard improvements, with the Agency’s regional units, Laboratory Services Division (LSD), and Field Operations Coordinating Unit (FOCU), the FRD spearheaded an online meeting to discuss updates on new policies and improve registration processes efficiency among its support units.

Present in the online meeting was FRD Chief Julieta Lansangan along with other agriculturists from the FRD, regional and provincial field units, as well as representatives from the LSD and the FOCU held on February 16, 2022.

Confirmatory analysis results from routine field monitoring activities of FPA regional units on registered fertilizer products show low results of total nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) content.  This translates to ineffective inputs for agricultural use, which is further corroborated by reports from Regions II and III by Regional Officers Leonardo Bangad and Val Suguitan, respectively, of substandard products being used by farmers.

In response, Ms. Lansangan presented a proposal to implement a minimum standard for NPK content of both local and imported inorganic fertilizers.  This new requirement is seen to prevent substandard products from being registered by the FPA and used by the farmers.

Further, the division discussed new policies on wastewater reuse certification for fertilizer, and the publishing of bioefficacy trial reports of products for registration, all of which are proposed amendments in the regulatory implementing guidelines.  The transfer of the issuance of wastewater reuse certification from the DA regional offices to FPA, in compliance with Department of Agriculture Administrative Order No. 11, Series of 2019 aims to provide better quality to our stakeholders in response to new research findings and recent developments. While the publishing of terminal reports to public or private journals will allow the public or other interested parties to evaluate the efficacy of the tested fertilizer products.

To promote clients’ convenience and reduce the number of processes for laboratory analysis procedure of fertilizer samples in acquiring product licenses, LSD Chemist IV Mr. Angelo Bugarin suggested allowing clients to take samples directly to the laboratories. However, to secure the integrity of the samples, as a control measure, standardized packaging will be implemented.

As for the FOCU, two new regulations aiming to standardize procedures for the field unit’s monitoring activities will be implemented. To promote transparency, a memorandum circular on placing price tags for fertilizer in Region 1 and the disposition of stop use, stop move, stop sale, and hold (SUMS) order will be put into action. 

The Fertilizer Regulations Division is a vital unit of the FPA that is responsible for regulating the licensing of fertilizer handlers, the registration of fertilizer products, and the issuance of permits, according to PD 1144, for the improved quality of life for all Filipinos through increased farm incomes, productivity and food production using safe and appropriate fertilizers. 

Sources: Julieta B. Lansangan, Chief, Fertilizer Regulations Division (FRD) FPA-FRD and RFU