QuestionsQuestions (BFAD BUREAU CIRCULAR NO. 08, S. 2004)
It regulates and monitors the mandatory fortification of staple foods (rice, sugar, flour, and cooking oil) and governs how food processors should utilize these fortified staples as ingredients for registration of processed foods.
Cooking oil and sugar; flour; and rice—each with specific vitamins/minerals required under the fortification mandate.
Cooking oil must be fortified with vitamin A.
Sugar must be fortified with vitamin A.
Flour must be fortified with iron and vitamin A.
Rice must be fortified with iron.
Compliance is required by 07 November 2004.
Starting 07 November 2004, processed foods for registration that use the specified staple ingredients must use the fortified form.
It cites RA 8976, particularly Section 6(a) and (b) and Section 11, as the statutory basis for mandatory fortification.
It expressly covers processed foods for registration that contain the specified ingredients; these must use the fortified form starting 07 November 2004.
The industry may seek exemption if it submits science-based documentation showing why the product should be exempted from using the fortified staple ingredients.
Rule X, Section 2 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations for RA 8976.
Science-based documentation explaining why the product should not be required to use the fortified staple ingredients.
It states that the circular is issued for strict compliance and implementation.
It was adopted on 10 June 2004 and signed by Prof. Leticia Barbara B. Gutierrez, MS (Director).
It conditions processed food registration on the use of fortified staples, aligning BFAD’s registration requirements with the fortification obligations under RA 8976.