The Food and Drug Administration ordered French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur Inc. and one of the country’s biggest drugstore chains, Watsons Personal Care Stores (Philippines) Inc., to cease and desist from advertising, promoting and conducting immunization activities in Watsons drugstores.
The FDA also asked both companies to show cause why administrative and criminal charges should not be filed against them for conducting such activities without FDA authorization.
FDA director general Nela Charade Puno said the FDA did not issue an authorization to allow immunization community-based health services to Sanofi, Watsons or any drug store.
“As such, there is no assurance on the safety and quality of the service rendered in these drugstores and thus poses a potential health hazard to the consuming public,” Puno said.