Escudero Pushes Bill to Transfer FDA Functions, Streamline Government Regulation

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero is proposing a measure that would transfer several regulatory functions of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to other government agencies in a bid to improve government efficiency and make business compliance easier.
According to Escudero, the FDA’s current mandate has become too broad, resulting in overlapping responsibilities and delays in processing applications and approvals. He said redistributing some of the agency’s functions to specialized government departments would help ensure faster and more effective regulation.
Under the proposal, the regulation of fresh food products would be transferred to the Department of Agriculture, while oversight of processed food products and cosmetics would be assigned to the Department of Trade and Industry. Regulatory authority over medicines, meanwhile, would be placed under the Department of Health. Escudero stressed that not all regulatory responsibilities should remain under a single agency.
The senator argued that the FDA has effectively become a “catch-all” regulatory body over the years, creating inefficiencies in government operations. He said the proposed restructuring would help eliminate overlapping mandates while ensuring that consumer protection measures remain in place.
Escudero emphasized that the bill is not intended to remove regulations but rather to place them under agencies that are better equipped to handle specific sectors. He noted that some FDA functions, particularly those related to agricultural products, have already been transferred to other agencies through memoranda of agreement and similar arrangements.
The proposed legislation seeks to institutionalize these transfers through law, formally assigning FDA responsibilities to appropriate government offices. Escudero said this would provide a clearer regulatory framework for businesses and government regulators alike.
The FDA has faced criticism from industry groups and oversight agencies over delays in processing applications, especially for emergency medicines. The Anti-Red Tape Authority has previously reported receiving numerous complaints involving the FDA, citing bottlenecks in its evaluation and approval processes. Business organizations have also pointed to lengthy product registration timelines and complex regulatory requirements as challenges to market entry.
Escudero further noted that several countries operate without a single FDA-style regulator. In Singapore, food regulation is handled by the Singapore Food Agency, while medicines and cosmetics are overseen by the Health Sciences Authority. Similarly, the United Kingdom divides regulatory responsibilities among separate agencies responsible for food standards, medicines, and cosmetics.
The senator said the proposed reforms are aimed at creating a more efficient regulatory system that supports economic activity while maintaining public health and consumer safety standards.