Sunday, April 2, 2023
manilastandard.net
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
manilastandard.net
No Result
View All Result
Home Business Biz Plus

Consumers threaten FDA with graft charges

Manila Standard BusinessbyManila Standard Business
October 20, 2020, 8:15 pm
in Biz Plus
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Email

The Food and Drugs Administration continued to face backlash from stakeholders who threatened to file graft charges before the Ombudsman following the regulatory agency’s alleged admission of receiving funds from foreign vested interest groups.

The FDA conducted virtual public consultations on the general guidelines for e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products on Oct. 6 and 8, 2020, where a ranking FDA official claimed the agency received grants from The Union and Bloomberg Initiative after questioning from Nueva Ecija Rep. Estrellita Suansing, who noted the potential conflict of interest.

The public consultation described by some stakeholders as “moro-moro” was suspended upon the request of Deputy House Speaker Deogracias Victor Savellano, who moved to conduct a full-blown House of Representatives investigation on the FDA.

Nicotine Consumers Union of the Philippines president Anton Israel said “if the FDA ignores the views of legitimate and impacted stakeholders and proceeds with the adoption of an administrative order lifted from the playbook of their anti-tobacco patrons, we would be constrained to file an anti-graft case with the Ombudsman.”

Philippine representative to the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates Clarisse Virgino said they were “shocked and aghast by the admission of the FDA that they received money from the Union and Bloomberg Initiative. These groups are known advocates of prohibition for all forms of tobacco products including better alternatives to cigarettes like e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Philippine E-Cigarette Industry Association president Joey Dulay said during the last FDA public hearing that, “we are saddened to hear that the proposed FDA Guidelines on the regulation of vapor products was based on the recommendations of only the public health NGOs, we [vapers and industry] are the ones most affected with these guidelines and should be heard and considered also.”

“Upon questioning by Congress representatives present in the hearing, it came out that the FDA has been receiving financial grants of Bloomberg, basing guidelines on medical NGO’s who are known anti-vapor groups, shows partiality. We would like to humbly request FDA for a more fair and impartial conduct of the drafting of the guidelines. That is all we ask, so we may work things together hand in hand please,” Dulay said.

Virgino reminded the FDA that the solicitation or acceptance of gifts is prohibited under Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, especially if it involves a piece of regulation.

“Section 7 of RA 6713 prohibits public officials and employees from soliciting or accepting, directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value from any person in the course of their official duties or in connection with any operation being regulated by, or any transaction which may be affected by the functions of their office. It is clear that funds received from anti-vaping groups would jeopardize FDA’s treatment of tobacco harm reduction products such as e-cigarettes and HTPs,” she said.

FDA’s acceptance of the grant is a clear case of conflict of interest driven solely by financial considerations, according to Israel. “We know this government is uncompromising with corruption and President Duterte will not tolerate this abuse of authority,” he said.

Virgino said the FDA as a regulatory agency should be an independent body free from influence of any foreign or local institution that tries to push their own interests.

“It is supposed to safeguard public health, and not become a subordinate to moneyed foreign groups,” she said.

“It comes now as no surprise that the administrative order drafted by the FDA, if adopted, would virtually constitute a de-facto ban on vapes and HTPs,” Virginio said.

“The FDA agenda is crystal clear. For the 16 million Filipino smokers, the only option is to quit or die. To the 1 million vapers, go back to smoking cigarettes,” she said.

“This is the height of irresponsibility for a government agency when we all know there are options for those who can’t quit cigarettes,” Israel said.

He said that “without better alternatives to cigarettes, smokers are only presented with the choice—quit or die.”

Israel said that as a vaper, “If the FDA restricts vaping products, I would definitely go back exclusively to cigarettes.”

Tags: e-cigarettesFDAFood and Drugs Administrationgraft chargesheated tobacco products
ADVERTISEMENT
Manila Standard Business

Manila Standard Business

Related Posts

BPO firm recognized for people-centered policies at work

byManila Standard
April 1, 2023, 7:50 pm
0
8
BPO firm recognized for people-centered policies at work

For the second year running, Teleperformance earned the distinction as one of Philippines “Best Workplaces™ in 2023, during the Great...

Read more

First woman leader at Savemore is a loyal SM employee

byManila Standard
April 1, 2023, 7:40 pm
0
8
Life insurance firm offers affordable trust investments to Filipinos

It was not too long ago when Genevieve Manalad assumed the highest post at Savemore Market and received the distinction...

Read more

Life insurance firm offers affordable trust investments to Filipinos

byManila Standard
April 1, 2023, 7:30 pm
0
8
Life insurance firm offers affordable trust investments to Filipinos

Investing local and global Unit Investment Trust Funds (UITFs) is now more accessible to Filipinos as Manulife Investment Management and...

Read more

Notice of Postponement of Annual Stockholder’s Meeting- Asia Pacific Medical Center Iloilo

byManila Standard
April 1, 2023, 6:00 am
0
8
Notice of Postponement of Annual Stockholder’s Meeting- Asia Pacific Medical Center Iloilo

Notice of Postponement of Annual Stockholder’s Meeting

Read more

Nanotech participates in Water Philippines 2023

byManila Standard
March 31, 2023, 7:50 pm
0
8
Banaag assumes post as Bright Kindle director

Water Philippines 2023 gathered the widest variety of over 300 exhibiting companies and key players in the water industry on...

Read more

Notice of Postponement of Annual Stockholder’s Meeting- Asia Pacific Medical Center Iloilo

byManila Standard
March 31, 2023, 8:10 am
0
8
Notice of Postponement of Annual Stockholder’s Meeting- Asia Pacific Medical Center Iloilo

Notice of Postponement of Annual Stockholder's Meeting

Read more

Print Edition

View More

Recent Posts

  • Sneakers for Makati : AB4.0
  • PH to meet EU standards on seafarers
  • NAIA passenger surge to hit 1.2m during long Holy Week holiday
  • Teves not returning home until wish list is met—lawyer
  • Majority of Pinoys back Maharlika Fund—survey
  • 2 Fil-Am soldiers, 7 others die in chopper crashes in Kentucky
  • BI to stop using departure forms under expanded eTravel scheme
  • Nemenzo is endorsed as UP chancellor

Advertisement

Latest News

2 Fil-Am soldiers, 7 others die in chopper crashes in Kentucky

byAFP
April 2, 2023, 1:00 am
0
8
Vax wastage, infection surge feared in Odette-hit areas

Nine American Army soldiers, among them two of Filipino descent, were reported killed on Wednesday in helicopter crashes that marred...

Read more

BI to stop using departure forms under expanded eTravel scheme

byVito Barcelo
April 2, 2023, 12:50 am
0
8
Koreans top list of fugitive aliens captured by BI

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) will discontinue the use of paper-based departure cards starting May 1. In an advisory, BI...

Read more

Nemenzo is endorsed as UP chancellor

byManila Standard
April 2, 2023, 12:30 am
0
8
Road closed to give way for progress

Three members of the University of the Philippines (UP) board of regents have openly endorsed Dr. Fidel Nemenzo as chancellor...

Read more

Cops nab suspect in DLSU-Dasma coed’s murder

byManila Standard
April 2, 2023, 12:20 am
0
8
Vax wastage, infection surge feared in Odette-hit areas

Police have arrested the suspect in the March 28 killing of a 22-year-old graduating coed of the De La Salle...

Read more

MMDA traffic aide in extort racket falls

byJoel E. Zurbano
April 2, 2023, 12:10 am
0
8
MMDA prepares for road closure

Police have arrested a traffic aide of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for alleged extortion in Port Area, Manila....

Read more

Advertisement

ADVERTISEMENT
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

ABOUT US

Manila Standard

Manila Standard website (manilastandard.net), launched in August 2002, extends the newspaper’s reach beyond its traditional readers and makes its brand of Philippine news and opinion available to a much wider and geographically diverse readership here and overseas.

Digital Edition

In tone and content, the online edition mirrors the editorial thrust of the newspaper. While hewing to the traditional precepts of fairness and objectivity, MS believes the news of the day need not be staid, overly long or dry. Stories are succinct, readable and written in a lively style that has become a hallmark of the newspaper.

Download – Today’s Paper

Search

No Result
View All Result

6th Floor Universal Re Bldg., 106 Paseo De Roxas cor. Perea Street, Legaspi Village, 1226 Makati City Philippines

Trunklines: 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Pop.Life
    • Newsmakers
    • Hangouts
    • A-Pop
    • Post Its
    • Performances
    • Malls & Bazaars
    • Hobbies & Collections
  • Technology
    • Gadgets
    • Computers
    • Business
    • Tech Plus
  • MS ON THE ROAD
    • Sedan
    • SUV
    • Truck
    • Bike
    • Accessories
    • Motoring Plus
    • Commuter’s Corner
  • Home & Design
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Construction
    • Interior
  • Spotlight
  • Gallery
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • Events
    • Seminars
    • Exhibits
    • Community
  • Biyahero
    • Travel Features
    • Travel Reels
    • Travel Logs
  • Pets
  • Advertise with Us

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Install Manila Standard Web App

Install App