The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) has warned farmers against purchasing and using fertilizers, pesticides and other agricultural chemicals that are unregistered and have no valid certificate of product registration (CPR).
FPA, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture, recently issued an advisory to urge farmers not to use the unregistered and mislabeled fertilizers and pesticides. It was signed by FPA Executive Director Julieta B. Lansangan.
“Section 8 of Presidential Decree No. 1144 [PD No. 1144] states that it shall be unlawful for any handler of pesticides, fertilizer and other agricultural chemicals or for any farmers, planter or end-user of the same as the case may be…to deal in pesticides and/or fertilizers which have not been previously registered with FPA, or which registration has expired and has been suspended or revoked,” the advisory read.
FPA said Section 9 of the same also provides that “[n]o pesticides, fertilizer, or other agricultural chemical shall be exported, imported, manufactured, formulated, stored, distributed, sold or offered for sale, transported, delivered for transportation or used unless it has been duly registered with the FPA…”
The advisory from the agency included photos of the following products that farmers should avoid: Jumana Soil Conditioner, Aqua Oro, Pest-X and CEG Magic Foliar.
“Considering that the above-mentioned product has not gone through the evaluation process of FPA, the agency cannot assure its quality and safety,” the advisory read.
“Hence, all concerned establishments are warned not to distribute, advertise, or sell the aforementioned product, otherwise, appropriate penalties and sanctions shall be strictly imposed.”
FPA urged all its regional and provincial personnel as well as law enforcement agencies and local government units to ensure that the products are not sold in their areas.
“Moreoever, the Bureau of Customs is urged to restrain the entry of unregistered imported products,” the advisory read.
The FPA said farmers and other users of agricultural chemicals may visit its website to check if a certain product is registered with the agency.
