G/TBT/N/PHL/277  
6 December 2021  
(21-9133) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  PHILIPPINES   
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:   
MS. PILAR MARILYN M. PAGAYUNAN  
Director IV  
Center for Food Regulation and Research (CFRR)  
Food and Drug Administration  
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority desi gnated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
Ms. CAROLINE C. DULLER  
Center for Food Regulation and Research (CFRR) Food and Drug Administration  
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH  
Email: ccduller@fda.gov.ph ; mvdpinion@fda.gov.ph   
www.fda.gov.ph  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  FOOD 
TECHNOLOGY (ICS 67)  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Guidelines for 
Proce ssed Prepackaged Food Products Containing Trans -Fatty Acids (TFA) (5 page(s), in 
English)  
6. Description of content:  In accordance with FDA mandate under RA 9711 and RA 10611 
and their IRRs, this Circular intends to regulate the TFA in processed foods and  implement 
the responsibilities of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) within its mandate i.e. A 
to C of item VI. of AO 2021 -0039; and (2) determine the appropriate transitory period 
that shall not be more than two (2) years from the effectivity of the said AO.  
The FDA with its regulatory jurisdiction over processed prepackaged food products joins 
the DOH in implementing AO 2021 -0039. Thus, the issuance of this Circular is deemed 
imperative.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  1. To provide guidelines for registration of processed prepackaged food 
products containing TFA intended to be distributed in the Philippine market. 2. To prohibit 
the importation, local manufacture, distribution, and sale  of PartiallyHydrogenated Oils 
(PHO), and Oils and Fats blended with Partially -Hydrogenated Oils. 3. To prohibit oils and 
fats with TFA content of more than 2g per 100g; processed prepackaged food with PHOs; 
and other processed prepackaged food with high T FA content (as defined in this Circular). G/TBT/N/PHL/277  
 
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  4. To set additional requirements for the registration of processed prepackaged food 
products containing TFA, and specify the transitory period of its implementation.; 
Protection of human health or safety  
8. Relev ant documents:  Department of Health (DOH) Administrative Order (AO) 2021 -
0039 "National Policy on the Elimination of Industrially -Produced Trans -Fatty Acids for the 
Prevention and Control of Non -Communicable Diseases" or NCD  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  15 days after filing at the UP Law Center and publication 
in newspaper of general circulation and upon acknowledgement of receipt of a copy hereof 
by the Office of the National Administrative Register.  
Proposed date of entry into force:  15 days a fter filing at the UP Law Center and 
publication in newspaper of general circulation and upon acknowledgement of receipt of 
a copy hereof by the Office of the National Administrative Register.  
10. Final date for comments:  9 December 2021  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
Mr. Neil P. Catajay  
Director  
Bureau of Philippine Standards  
Department of Trade and Industry  
3F Trade and Indus try Building  
361 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue  
Makati City  
Philippines  
1200  
(632) 751 4700; (632) 7913128  
bps@dti.gov.ph  
http://www.bps.dti.gov.ph  
Head of Organization  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/TBT/PHL/21_7557_00_e.pdf