January 22, 2026 | Quezon City, Philippines – The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) has clarified that the recent issuance of Memorandum Circular No. 1, Series of 2026 revoking the online selling and trading of fertilizers and pesticides is not an indiscriminate ban, but a regulatory action grounded on existing laws and public safety considerations.

The FPA emphasized that online selling of fertilizers and pesticide products has never been authorized, as the Agency does not issue licenses or permits allowing the sale of regulated agricultural inputs through online platforms. 

The recent Memorandum merely reinforces this long-standing policy under Presidential Decree No. 1144, which mandates the FPA to regulate the manufacture, importation, distribution, and sale of fertilizers and pesticides in the country.

According to Executive Director Glenn Estrada, the uncontrolled nature of online selling poses serious risks to farmers, consumers, and the environment. 

“Products sold online are often untraceable and may be counterfeit, substandard, improperly labeled, or chemically unsafe. These risks are heightened in specialized farming systems, such as hydroponics, where precise product composition is critical to crop safety and productivity,” he said.

Director Estrada also shared that the current online selling environment does not allow effective regulation of the fertilizer and pesticide value chain.

“Products pass through multiple unlicensed channels such as online platforms, warehouses, couriers, and third-party handlers without regulatory oversight. This creates opportunities for improper storage, repacking, substitution, or tampering of regulated products,” he explained.

Director Estrada further warned that many fertilizer and pesticide products sold online originate from overseas sources and enter the country without proper registration, import clearance, or quality inspection. 

“Pesticide products imported without a Certificate Authorizing the Importation of Pesticides (CAIP) are considered smuggled agricultural inputs and pose significant threats due to unknown chemical composition and lack of accountability.”

While the FPA acknowledged concerns on access to specialized fertilizers in certain areas, particularly in provinces outside the National Capital Region, Director Estrada stressed that allowing unregulated online selling is neither a safe nor sustainable solution. 

He reiterated that licensed fertilizer and pesticide dealers operate in all regions nationwide, ensuring that farmers have access to legitimate, registered, and safe agricultural inputs through authorized physical establishments.

He clarified that the FPA is not closing the door to online selling as a future mode of distribution. Instead, the Agency is committed to developing a robust regulatory framework that will allow online selling once proper safeguards, licensing mechanisms, traceability systems, and enforcement controls are in place. Until such systems are established, online selling of fertilizers and pesticides remains unauthorized.

The FPA continuously reminds farmers and stakeholders to remain vigilant and to purchase fertilizers and pesticides only from FPA-licensed dealers and distributors on their authorized physical establishments, in compliance with existing laws and regulations.

“The protection of farmers, consumers, and the environment remains our priority,” Director Estrada said. “Regulation is essential to ensure that agricultural inputs are safe, effective, and legally distributed.”

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Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) Online ISSN: 2815-1674
Published by the FPA Information and Communications Team