Philippines FDA Opens Public Consultation on Draft Guidelines for Nutrition and Health Claims

The Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released for public consultation a draft Circular titled Guidelines on the Use of Acceptable Nutrition and Health Claims in the Labeling, Advertisement, Sponsorships, Promotions, and Other Marketing Activities of Prepackaged Processed Food Products, aimed at strengthening consumer protection, ensuring scientific credibility of claims, and promoting fair competition in the food industry. The proposed guidelines consolidate ASEAN-recognized nutrition and health claims and supplement existing rules under Bureau Circular No. 2007-002 and Codex Alimentarius standards, covering locally manufactured and imported prepackaged processed foods sold in the Philippines, while excluding products for export and foods for infants and young children. The Circular outlines acceptable claims, substantiation requirements, approval processes, transition provisions for existing products, and monitoring mechanisms. Stakeholders are invited to submit comments and inputs until 15 January 2026 via email to gapascual@fda.gov.ph.