Philippines Food and Drug Administration drafts food contact article compliance guidelines

On 1 February 2026, Philipines Food and Drug Administration released for public consultation a Draft Administrative Order titled “General Guidelines on the Regulatory Compliance of Food Contact Articles (FCA) Used for Prepackaged Processed Food Products,” with comments accepted until 04 March 2026. The proposal is anchored in the Food Safety Act of 2013 (RA 10611) and its IRR, which require a high level of food safety and the prevention of adulteration. It recognises chemical migration from FCAs as a potential source of adulteration, supported by FDA Circular 2022-011 and extensive scientific literature on migration risks. The draft aims to: (i) provide clear compliance guidance for Food Business Operators (FBOs) on FCA safety and quality, (ii) prevent contamination of prepackaged processed foods from migrating substances, and (iii) strengthen regulatory oversight and post-market surveillance. It applies to locally manufactured and imported finished FCAs, including primary, active, intelligent, recycled, and novel food-contact materials, while excluding untreated natural materials, edible casings, and fixed water-supply equipment not used for food packaging. Key requirements include compliance with migration limits under applicable standards, supplier verification through a Certificate of Suitability or equivalent, full traceability, proper storage, and mandatory safety warnings for non-edible active components. Existing stocks are given a 12-month transition period, and non-compliance will be penalised under RA 10611, RA 3720 (as amended), and RA 7394. The Order takes effect 15 days after publication and ONAR filing.