Chiz Pushes FDA Overhaul to Strengthen Consumer Protection and Modernize Product Regulation

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero is pushing for a sweeping overhaul of the country’s product regulatory system, saying the proposed reforms will strengthen consumer protection, improve public health safeguards, and make government regulation more efficient.

Escudero filed Senate Bill No. 2310, or the proposed Product Regulatory System Reform Act, which seeks to redistribute several regulatory functions currently handled by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to government agencies with specialized expertise. According to the Senate President, the measure is designed to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks, reduce overlapping functions, and establish a science-based, risk-informed regulatory framework that is better suited to today’s rapidly evolving marketplace.

“The efficiency of product regulation is critical to protecting public health and ensuring consumer safety,” Escudero emphasized in the bill’s explanatory note. He stressed that government agencies play a vital role in enforcing product standards, verifying quality, and ensuring compliance with technical and manufacturing requirements—responsibilities that individual consumers cannot reasonably be expected to perform on their own.

Under the proposed legislation, regulatory oversight of raw and unprocessed food products would be transferred to the Department of Agriculture (DA), while processed foods, cosmetics, and other consumer goods would fall under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Other product categories may also be assigned to specialized government agencies based on their level of risk and statutory mandates.

Escudero said the realignment will ensure that products are regulated by agencies with the appropriate technical expertise and institutional capacity. The bill also requires stronger inter-agency coordination to prevent duplication of responsibilities and improve the delivery of government services.

The Senate President noted that the country’s regulatory framework must keep pace with rapid technological advancements, increasingly complex products, evolving local and global markets, and emerging public health challenges. He said the proposed reforms are intended to create a more responsive and future-ready regulatory system that balances consumer protection with innovation and economic growth.

To ensure a smooth transition, the bill provides that existing permits, licenses, registrations, and authorizations will remain valid until their expiration, while pending applications and enforcement actions will be completed by the government agency assuming the transferred function.

For Escudero, the proposed measure represents a significant step toward building a more coherent, adaptive, and efficient regulatory system—one that better protects consumers, strengthens public health, supports responsible business innovation, and enhances investor confidence in the Philippines.