THE Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) issued suspension and preventive suspension orders on five firms for allegedly violating fertilizer laws and regulatory policies.
The agency noted that the sanctions followed separate investigations, monitoring operations, and compliance checks involving fertilizer manufacturers, distributors, and product registrants.
FPA Executive Director Glenn Estrada said the violations include refusal to allow lawful inspections by the agency’s personnel, sale of counterfeit and off-specification fertilizer products, product mislabelling.
Unauthorized movement of products already covered by Stop Sale, Stop Use, Stop Move, and Hold (SUMS) orders is also included in the violations.
He added that some of the firms involved had been participating in government fertilizer procurement and bidding activities, including the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) fertilizer subsidy program.
‘These violations undermine the integrity of the country’s fertilizer regulatory system and may expose farmers and the agricultural sector to risks linked to unverified, unregistered, adulterated, or non-compliant products,’ Estrada said.
As such, the FPA stressed that only compliant, duly registered, and quality-assured fertilizer products and handlers are allowed to join government-backed agricultural programs.
For his part, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said strict regulation is crucial to protecting farmers and safeguarding public funds earmarked for agricultural support programs.
‘We cannot allow questionable and non-compliant fertilizer products to undermine our farmers’ productivity and compromise the integrity of government agricultural programs,’ Tiu Laurel said. ‘These enforcement actions send a strong message that the government is serious about protecting Filipino farmers and ensuring accountability across the fertilizer industry,’ he added.
The DA chief said the agency’s regional officials are also being investigated by Internal Audit Service to look into possible collusion with erring fertilizer firms.
‘We must make sure that our personnel in the regions are above reproach,’ he said.
The FPA added that some cases involve unresolved questions on the validity, traceability, and regulatory status of certain fertilizer products and registrations.
Pending final resolution of the cases, the FPA explained that affected companies and products will be temporarily removed from the official list of FPA-registered fertilizer handlers and products.
The agency said preventive suspension is a precautionary regulatory measure to protect farmers, consumers, and the public while investigations and compliance verification remain ongoing. The FPA warned that penalties against firms violating fertilizer regulations may include suspension or revocation of licenses, disqualification from government transactions, and possible criminal charges.
The agency then urged farmers and stakeholders to buy only FPA-registered fertilizer products from licensed dealers and to report suspicious or counterfeit agricultural inputs.