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Introduction
Challenges in food safety are present throughout the food supply chain and it remains a growing concern globally.10 Several factors contribute to the increased exposure of populations to more food hazards including but not limited to freer trade and globalization of food products. 11,12 To maintain a distinct relationship with its international trading partners, the Philippines has participated as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) since January 1, 1995 but has since recognized the multilateral trading system from the priorly imposed General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in 1979. 13 Included in the provisions of being a member of the WTO is the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) Agreement.15 The SPS Agreement states that member countries are permitted to impose legitimate measures that ensure food safety and the protection of human, animal, and plant health, provided that such measures are based on scientific knowledge and are not imposed to impede free trade.16 This Agreement refers to the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) as the standard-setting body for food safety,14 the International Animal Health Organization (Office International des Epizooties) (OIE) for animal health; and, the FAO Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) for plant health.14 The SPS Agreement entails all member countries to employ food safety risk analysis as basis for their respective SPS measures for trade. 17
Food safety refers to the protection of consumers from foodborne diseases and other health-related conditions brought about by the exposure to hazards present in food products.12 The first recorded food- and water-borne disease outbreak in the Philippines was caused by Vibrio cholerae in 1583 during the Spanish colonization.18 It was during the American period (1898-1918) that public health was given priority through building more hospitals and imposition of stricter measures to prevent the spread of diseases.18 It was also during this period that the Department of Health (DOH)19 and the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Natural Resources were established.20 However, it was only in the enactment of the Republic Act No. 10611, otherwise known as the Food Safety Act of 2013 (FSA 2013), that a structured food safety regulatory system has been established. Provisions stated in the FSA 2013 delineates the...