Licensing is required as a condition precedent to the importation, exportation, manufacture, formulation, repacking, distribution, delivery, sale, transport, storage and use of any fertilizer, pesticide and other agricultural chemicals.

Import control has been strengthened and institutionalized. From an agreement with the Bureau of Customs (BOC), shipments of pesticides will only be released by the BOC if covered by a corresponding FPA Certificate Authorizing Importation of Pesticide (CAIP). An agreement is likewise established with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas which in turn issued a circular to all commercial depository banks not to issue letters of credit (L/Cs) to any pesticide importer with no appropriate CAIP issued by the FPA.

In coordination with government product standards agencies, FPA designs and implements quality control standards for fertilizer and pesticide products. It also monitors safe handling, use, application and compliance with industrial health and safety in manufacturing and formulation plants, impose penalties and sanctions for violation of set rules and standards.

The pesticide industry and end-users, manufacturers, sellers, and buyers, are enjoined to adopt and undertake a cradle-to-grave approach to pesticide management, primarily the training of handlers and the public on the safe and judicious use of pesticide and the dissemination of information materials. The program is required for every pesticide product wherein registrants are made primarily responsible for the conduct of stewardship program for their products.

All Fertilizer products, organic or inorganic, raw materials and ingredients for fertilizer, which are imported or produced locally, should be registered with FPA. Registration requirements include the submission of production specification supported by chemical analysis, mode of action, product type and the result of efficacy trials conducted by an FPA accredited and independent researcher. The set of data is evaluated by a registration consultant. With the continued production of new grades, brands and type of locally produced and imported fertilizers, to take advantage of the increasing market demand, a wide range of products for selection are provided. Registration of these commercially processed fertilizers is therefore needed to give greater assurance that the quality of each brand is maintained as the specified standards (characteristics and effort) as claimed by the registrants. Fertilizer handlers such as importers, distributors, exporters, manufacturers, bulk blenders and processors should register their products with FPA.

This is a mechanism to generate relevant information to ensure safety, public health and environmental protection in the use of the pesticides. Data and information generated are required to support the product label statement for effective application and precaution for safe use. This includes specific instructions in case of poisoning. Registration of biorational pesticide that includes biochemical and microbial pest control agents which are naturally occurring or must be structurally identical to naturally occurring chemicals if synthesized. Exposure studies are required for new proprietary products with strong toxicological concern. Fast tracking of registration of less hazardous, less persistent, environmentally- friendly, target and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) compatible pesticide products. Harmonization of pesticide registration requirements envisioned to share expertise and pooled resources to build the necessary capabilities for such purpose.

Regular conduct of trainings and accreditation programs for handlers of fertilizer and pesticide products that involve: 1) Fertilizer and pesticide dealers and distributors 2) Mango Contractors 3) Pesticide Applicators (agricultural pest exterminators and fumigators) 4) Fertilizer and pesticide researchers for the conduct of field-testing and experimentation for product registration. In addition, FPA conducts training on the Safe and Judicious Use of Fertilizers and Pesticides nationwide. FPA also monitors fertilizer and pesticide prices and disseminates information on the proper and effective application of fertilizer and pesticide through IEC materials, media, dialogues, symposia, trainings and seminars.

This includes a) fertilizer and pesticide industry coordination and support, b) promotion of safe and judicious use of fertilizers and pesticides, and c) coordination with other government agencies relative to the further development of the Philippine agriculture sector.

• Conduct information campaign regarding the safe and effective use of pesticides and fertilizers.
• Promote and coordinate all fertilizer and pesticide research to ensure scientific pest control, safety in the use and handling of pesticides, higher standards and quality of products and better application methods.
• Promulgate rules and regulations for the licensing of handlers and registration of fertilizer and pesticide products.
• Establish and impose appropriate penalties on handlers of these products for violations of any rules and regulations.
• Make continuous assessment of the fertilizer supply and demand situation, both domestic and worldwide.
• Establish and implement regulations governing the import and export of fertilizer inputs and, when necessary, import and/or export such items.
• Regulate and control quality of the different grades of fertilizer and set new grades when necessary.
• Control and regulate all aspects of fertilizer production.
• To do all such things as necessary to maintain an adequate supply of fertilizer at reasonable prices.
• Restrict or ban the use of formulation of any pesticide.