DTI reminds food makers on proper labels

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will intensify its efforts for the implementation of proper food labels. In a recent televised interview, DTI Undersecretary for Consumer Protection Group Ruth B. Castelo said one of Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual’s marching orders was to ensure the proper expiry dates and language placed on products.

“This is one of the first few marching orders that we received from Secretary Pascual ’yung expiration date ng mga produkto na kailangan talaga…,” said Castelo.

The trade official noted that they are experiencing difficulty, especially among the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMES) as they are not that concerned on the expiry dates. However, Castelo said, “But pinapaalala po natin that this is one of the requirements for compliance, they should be concerned.”

The head of DTI Consumer Protection Group also emphasized that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a format for the expiry dates to be placed on consumable products like food and cosmetics. “May format po ’yan sa lahat ng produkto natin kung January 2023 ang expiration ninyo, ang format po niyan ay 01 for January 1st ’yung first day of the year, tapos ’yung month is spelled pero abbreviated ’yung three-letter word lang nung month tapos ’yung year na buo 2-02-3,” Castelo said.

Further, Castelo said that apart from the expiry date, the trade chief also ordered to keep track of the language used on the food packaging.

“May isa pa, ’yung label, di ba ’yung mga label ng pagkain ’yung mga foreign language, meron kasi tayong existing department administrative order [DAO] na pinapatupad at ngayon pa ay mag-i-intensify tayo nyan,” said the trade offical.