GUIDELINES AND POLICIES ON FOOD FORTIFICATION PROGRAM

Administrative Order No. 4-A s. 1995

GUIDELINES ON MICRONUTRIENT FORTIFICATION OF PROCESSED FOODS

Section II - OBJECTIVES
To improve the nutritional quality of the nations food supply (Dept. of Health)
Basis for the rational addition of nutrient(s) To avoid over-or-under fortification and misleading label claims

Section III
DEFINITION OF TERMS
FORTIFICATION - the addition of nutrients to processed foods at levels above the natural state PROCESSED FOOD food that has been subjected to some degree of processing which partially or completely changes the physico-chemical and/or sensory characteristics of the raw material. UNPROCESSED FOOD food that has not undergone any treatment resulting in substantial change in the original state.

Section IV
STATEMENT OF POLICIES

1. FF shall be vital where there is demonstrated need to increase the intake of an essential nutrient by one or more population groups

Section IV STATEMENT OF POLICIES

2. The Department recognizes that the nutritional deficiency problems in the Philippines based on recent nutrition surveys include deficiencies in Energy Iron vitamin A Thiamin Riboflavin Iodine Ascorbic acid Calcium Folate

Section IV STATEMENT OF POLICIES

3. FF shall not be encouraged in alcoholic beverages and candies

Section IV STATEMENT OF POLICIES

4. FF is highly encouraged for foods that are widely consumed particularly by at-risk population groups.
cereals cereal based products (with iron & B complex) juices, flavored drinks & food gels (with vitamin C) filled milk, cooking oil & margarine (w/ vitamin A) salt (with iodine)

Section IV STATEMENT OF POLICIES

5. FF shall be recommended for processed foods replace or simulate traditional foods to compensate for nutritional inferiority due to use of substitute ingredients

Section V COVERAGE
These Guidelines shall apply to all fortified foods except dietary supplements and foods for which established standards include specifications for nutrient composition or levels of fortification

Section VI
FOOD FORTIFICATION GUIDELINES
1. Choosing an appropriate nutrient as fortificant 2. Processed foods fortified with nutrients that are not deficient in the Filipino diet to restore losses in the food. 3. Fortification is appropriate when essential nutrient(s) as (are) added in proportion to the total caloric content of food.

Section VI
FOOD FORTIFICATION GUIDELINES

4. Processed foods that are consumed not for its caloric contribution to the diet may be fortified only with essential nutrients that are deficient in the Filipino diet, PROVIDED such foods are appropriate vehicles for the particular nutrient(s) and are widely consumed by the general population or are intended for intervention programs to address micronutrient deficiency in specific target populations.

Section VI
FOOD FORTIFICATION GUIDELINES
5. The fortification level shall be in accordance with the following principles 5.1. For essential

nutrients that are deficient in the Filipino diet:

Added nutrients shall supply at least 1/3 of the RDA of the target consumer, except that vitamin C shall be supplied at not less than 100% of the RDA in fortified juices/flavored drinks. These levels shall be uniformly distributed

Recommended Energy and Nutrient Intakes (RENI)

Section VI
FOOD FORTIFICATION GUIDELINES
The minimum fortification level computed in the following manner: shall be

Fortification level per 100 g = (A/(B*C)) x 100

Where A = 1/3 RDA of the target consumer B = no. of servings like to be consumed per day C = serving size (amount of food normally eaten at one time)
@+=%- ?#

Section VI
FOOD FORTIFICATION GUIDELINES
5.2. For nutrients that are essential but have not been established to be deficient in the Filipino diet, the added nutrients shall supply at least 1/5 (or 20%) of the RDA of the target consumer. Recommended Energy
and Nutrient Intakes (RENI)

Section VI
FOOD FORTIFICATION GUIDELINES
5.3. For nutrients that are essential but have no established RDA, the added nutrients shall supply at least 20% of the estimated safe and adequate levels for daily intake as recommended by the Food and Nutrition Board of the U.S. National Research Council.
Recommended Energy and Nutrient Intakes (RENI)

Section VI
FOOD FORTIFICATION GUIDELINES
5.4. For processed foods to be fortified with nutrient(s) with known toxicity (e.g. vitamins A, D, E, K, Zn, Se), the level shall not exceed 150% of the RDA for the target consumer For essential amino acids, fortification levels shall be in accordance with the recommendations of the Joint FAO/WHO/UNU Expert Consultaion on Energy and Protein Requirements.

5.5.

Section VI
FOOD FORTIFICATION GUIDELINES
5.8. For nutrients with Philippine RDA, the reference RDA shall be those of a Filipino male adult, 20-39y, 56kg.
Recommended Energy and Nutrient Intakes (RENI)

Section VI
FOOD FORTIFICATION GUIDELINES
5.9. For nutrients without established Philippine RDA, the USRDA shall be used, particularly of the male adult, 19-24y, 72 kg.

5.10. For processed foods specifically intended for children (after infancy and below 10 years), the reference RDA shall be that of a child in the 4 to 6 years age group. 5.11. Where no RDA has been prescribed for a nutrient, safety considerations shall be applied and the safety of the use of such nutrient in a particular food shall be supported by the user/claimant (producer/distributor)

Section VII
LABELING OF FORTIFIED PROCESSED FOODS
The following label declarations shall be required for fortified processed foods, in addition to other requirements under BFADs food labeling regulations:
1. At least 80% to 90% of the claimed fortification level are retained based on analysis shall be claim FORTIFIED be considered valid 2. Fortification claims shall be based on the processed food as packaged and purchased by the consumer

Section VII
LABELING OF FORTIFIED PROCESSED FOODS
3. The fortification level shall be appropriately presented on the labeling indicating the following information:
number of servings per container/package serving size by weight or volume calories per serving (kcal) nutrients added and their corresponding amount expressed as % RDA per serving

Section VII
LABELING OF FORTIFIED PROCESSED FOODS
4. The terms: enriched added with supplemented with Descriptive terms: rich in good source of excellent source of

FORTIFIED

FORTIFIED

Section VIII
COMPLIANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE SANCTIONS

1. These guidelines shall be applied in the registration of fortified processed food products in the BFAD 2. The BFAD itself or BFAD in coordination with the recognized agencies or institutions shall monitor the micronutrient of fortified processed food

Section VIII
COMPLIANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE SANCTIONS

3. A processed food claiming fortification shall be considered mislabelled unless the fortification levels comply with these guidelines

4. The BFAD, after notice and hearing, may impose administrative sanctions in case of non-compliance with these guidelines

Section IX TRANSITION PERIOD

1. All the manufacturers of food processors are given six (6) months from effectivity to comply with these guidelines 2. All food products that are not otherwise adulterated or mislabelled produced before the expiration of this 6-month period shall be allowed to stay in the market up to the expiration of their shelf-life

The Philippine Food Fortification Law of 2000

Republic Act 8976

An Act Establishing the Philippine Food Fortification Program and for other Purposes
Signed into law on November 7, 2000

RA 8976 - Rule IV
COVERAGE
1. Imported and locally processed foods

2. Food products for sale or distribution in the Philippines

Republic Act 8976 Components

1. Mandatory Fortification by November 7, 2004
Rice with iron Edible Oil with Vitamin A

Flour with Vitamin A and Iron

Sugar with Vitamin A

Republic Act 8976 Componets

2. Voluntary Fortification - Processed Food thru Sangkap Pinoy Seal
Baby foods Fruit Juices Snack foods

Canned Goods

Margarine

Noodles

RA 8976 - Seal
1. Mandatory Food Fortification
Diamond Seal

2. Voluntary Food Fortification

Sangkap Pinoy Seal

Rule IV. Sec. 3 Application and Responsibility in Food Fortification The Food fortification Law applies to the following :
1. Producers 2. Importers 3. Traders 4. Tollees 5. Repackers 6. Retailers 7. Restaurants 8. Food service establishments

Rule IV. Sec. 4-5 Licensing and Registration

Producers, importers, traders, repackers, tollees, retailers, restaurants and food service establishments shall be licensed by the following: 1. NFA - Rice 2. SRA - Sugar 3. PCA - Oil 4. BFAD - Flour, registration of fortified foods prior to distribution Implementation thru MOA between four government agencies

Rule VI Exemption from Mandatory Fortification

The following food items are exempted from mandatory Fortification:

1. Staples for export 2. Brown rice and glutinous rice 3. Raw sugar 4. Staples for use in processed foods that affects their properties, i.e. sugar for soft drinks

Rule VI Review of Mandatory Fortification

1. National Nutrition Council (NNC) Review and recommend other staple food products to be fortified 2. DOH thru BFAD Implementation of the fortification of other food products

Rule VIII Implementation, Monitoring and Review

DOH thru BFAD as the lead implementing and monitoring agency NNC as the advisory body that conducts periodic review or upon industry petition DA agencies assist BFAD in monitoring and review: - SRA, PCA, BOC, NFA and LGUs for markets and food service establishments Implementation BFAD to formulate SOPs for monitoring Reporting -business establishments and importers to BFAD -BOC to BFAD prior to release of mandatory staples.

Rule IX Support to Affected Manufacturers

DTI - provides soft loans and financial
assistance through BOI

DOST - developed new machines and

technologies and transfer technologies to manufacturers

Rule IX Support to Affected Manufacturers

Land Bank and Livecor

provide loans at preferential rates

Government Laboratory
provide analytical services at reasonable cost

Rule IX Sec. 2 Budget Support

Agencies mentioned in Rule VIII and IX mandated to implement and support the food fortification program, shall allocate part of their budget for the implementation and support of this program

Rule X I Administrative Sanctions

1st violation - fine not less than P300,000 and suspension of registration 2nd violation fine from P 301,000 to P 600,000 and suspention of registration 3rd violation fine from P 601,000 to P1,000,000 and cancellation of registration

Violation with manifest intention to mislead, defraud or deceive- maximum fine and revocation of license

Republic Act 8976

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