FPA takes action against underweight fertilizer bags in Davao and Tagum
Written by : Rustom Gain A. Tanduyan, Provincial Officer | Published: 25 March 2024
DAVAO CITY AND TAGUM CITY | March 25, 2024 – In an effort to combat the prevalence of underweight fertilizer bags in the market, the FPA Davao conducted a thorough inspection of importers and fertilizer distributors' warehouses in Davao City and Tagum City, Davao del Norte, from March 18 to 20, 2024.
The team inspected seven (7) fertilizer handlers namely:
- Sagrex Corporation
- La Filipina Uy Gongco Corporation
- Yara Fertilizers Philippines, Inc.
- Universal Harvester, Inc.
- Atlas Fertilizers Corporation
- Swire Agrotech Agricultural Products, Inc.
- Bacphil Planters Fertilizer Corporation
Out of 1,924 bags of fertilizers from 11 different brands and grades, including the six major grades, 773 bags weighed less than the standard 50-kg net weight.
During a consultative meeting with GlobalPort Davao Terminal Inc., Dr. Mula addressed concerns over underweight fertilizers. Recent random weigh-ins revealed that bags handled by GlobalPort Davao Terminal Inc. were underweight. The company assured the public of corrective measures and emphasized using automated bagging machines to prevent underweight fertilizer bags. Dr. Mula also highlighted issues regarding bag stitching affecting packaging quality and net weight.
“Adhering to fertilizer specifications, including declared nutrient standards and net weight is important to protect farmers’ interests. We should always conduct random weigh-ins upon delivery, report underweight bags to suppliers, and use well-calibrated electronic weighing scales for accuracy,” Dr. Mula stressed during the GlobalPort Davao Terminal Inc. meeting.
FPA Davao also reiterated that non-compliance to these standards could have severe ramifications, significantly impacting distributor revenue and farmers’ trust. Off-spec fertilizers can cause substantial harm to crop productivity and yield, leading to a significant reduction in farmer income.
Stakeholder feedback from the meetings will be considered for the revisions of the Fertilizer Regulatory Policies and Implementing Guidelines (Bluebook). “To ensure fertilizer market integrity, your input is invaluable. Let us work together to enforce regulations effectively,” Dr. Mula said.
Dr. Myer G. Mula, Deputy Executive Director for Fertilizer, and FPA Davao, under the direction of Regional Officer Marrisa G. Napalit together with Provincial Officers Louie T. Palarao, Cheery Agrade, Imelda Q. Rasay, Rustom Gain Tanduyan, Junette A. Cano, and Evan C. Bojos led the inspections. ###
Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) Online ISSN: 2815-1674
Published by the FPA Information and Communications Team
