The Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) has entered into partnership with FMC Research Solutions Inc. to launch a pilot test program aimed at bolstering the safety and quality of imported agricultural products. The agency signed a memorandum of understanding seeking to streamline inspection processes and ensure compliance with food safety regulations, ultimately protecting the health of Filipino consumers.
“Through this collaboration, we aim to enhance our inspection and quarantine capabilities,” said BPI director general Glenn Panganiban. He emphasized that the agreement aligns with Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr.’s vision to digitize and modernize the DA’s operations. “With the recent enactment of the Anti-Agricultural Sabotage Act, which expands our powers to combat agricultural product smuggling, this partnership will provide additional verification points within our supply chain.”
FMC Research Solutions, a Filipino regulatory technology firm, specializes in developing comprehensive lifecycle monitoring systems for imported agricultural products. Under the MOU, FMC will conduct the pilot program at no cost to the government.
“We aim to demonstrate our secure solution’s capabilities and features during this pilot test,” said Melody C. Chua, co-founder of FMC Research Solutions Inc. “Our end-to-end system is designed to address current challenges in food safety and agricultural smuggling. By enhancing the monitoring and audit functions of regulatory agencies, we will provide essential reports and business analytics to support the Bureau of Plant Industry.”
Chua further said that adopting FMC Research’s technology will promote greater transparency in import compliance, ultimately leading to improved food safety and quality for consumers. As the program unfolds, stakeholders are optimistic that this initiative will significantly enhance the integrity of the agricultural import process in the Philippines.
