Legal basis and governing framework
- The resolution is adopted to comply with Republic Act No. 8976, An Act Establishing the Food Fortification Program and for Other Purposes.
- The implementation is tied to the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 8976.
- The amendments explicitly relate to NFA Letter-Circular 2004 No. AO-2K4-07-001 dated June 15, 2004 on iron fortified rice and rice-based products.
Policy intent for iron fortified rice
- Rice fortification with iron is made part of the Food Fortification Program framework under Republic Act No. 8976.
- Industry transition is handled through gradual or phase by phase implementation based on industry capability.
- The cost burden for additional fortification is assigned to supply-side actors rather than farmers.
- Legal compliance responsibilities are allocated to parties in the rice production and distribution chain as specified in the resolution.
Scope and who must comply
- Palay millers have the sole responsibility for rice fortification.
- Rice importers have the sole responsibility for rice fortification.
- Palay owners have the sole responsibility for rice fortification when the rice is not owned by the millers.
- The resolution governs iron fortified rice and rice-based products under the NFA fortification implementation system.
Core implementation rules (phase and cost)
- Implementation shall proceed gradually or “phase by phase” in accordance with the capability of the industry.
- Rice fortification is assigned as the sole responsibility of palay millers, rice importers, and palay owners where applicable under the ownership condition.
- Any additional cost of fortifying rice shall be shouldered by the millers, not by the farmers.
- Mandatory fortification is required to commence on 07 November 2004.
Compliance responsibility and superseding clause
- Compliance with the fortification requirement is the sole responsibility of millers/importers.
- Compliance responsibility shifts to rice/palay owners if rice is not owned by the millers.
- All provisions of NFA Letter-Circular 2004 No. AO-2K4-07-001 dated June 15, 2004 that are inconsistent with the above rules are deemed superseded.
Adopting authority and signatories
- The resolution is approved by the NFA Council.
- The resolution’s approval and notice are signed by Ofelia Cortez-Reyes as Board Secretary.
- The notice is signed by Alexander A. Padilla, Undersecretary for Health Regulation of the Department of Health, adopting the agreed considerations on 04 Nov. 2004.
- The notice is also signed by Gregorio Y. Tan, Jr., Administrator, National Food Authority (NFA).