The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) has suspended five fertilizer companies for violating fertilizer laws and policies, including selling counterfeit or substandard products, mislabeling goods, blocking official inspections, and moving items under regulatory hold. Some of these firms previously took part in government procurement and subsidy programs.
This development safeguards farmers from low-quality inputs that could hurt their harvests, and ensures public funds for agricultural support are not misused. Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. backed the move, noting regional officials are also under probe for possible collusion with the erring firms.
Affected companies and their products are temporarily removed from FPA’s official registry. The agency warned of harsher penalties ahead—such as license revocation, bans from government deals, or criminal charges—and urged the public to buy only registered fertilizers and report suspicious items.
