After more than two years since it was enacted into law, Republic Act 9711, or the law creating the Food and Drug Administration,  is yet to be fully implemented, a press release from Congress said.

This prompted Rep. Ferjenel Biron (4th District, Iloilo) to file House Resolution 2074 calling for the House Committee on Health to conduct an investigation why the law was not implemented.

"It has been two years and four months since the passage of the law on August 10, 2009, no concrete actions, initiatives or mechanisms have been done for the agency’s full mandate implementation," Biron said.

He said the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the law were promulgated by the Department of Health in consultation with the FDA only on March 22, 2011.

Biron said the law was enacted to enhance and strengthen the administrative and technical capacity of the FDA in the regulation of establishments and products under its jurisdiction and ensure the FDA's monitoring and regulatory coverage over establishments and products under its jurisdiction.

The law will also provide coherence in the FDA's regulatory system for establishments and products under its jurisdiction, the press release said.

Under the law, a Congressional Oversight Committee will be created to oversee the implementation of this Act for a period of five years and to review the accomplishments and the utilization of income of the FDA, the press release said.

The FDA will have a Center for Drug Regulation and Research, Center for Food Regulation and Research, Center for Cosmetics Regulation, and Research and Center for Device Regulation, Radiation Health, and Research through the law.

These centers will regulate the manufacture, importation, exportation, distribution, sale, offer for sale, transfer, promotion, advertisement, sponsorship of, and/or, where appropriate, the use and testing of health products, the press release said.*

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