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March 12- 15, 2024 | NAIROBI, KENYA – As the lead agency in the country for the implementation of the India-Philippines project “Promoting eco-friendly crop protection solutions for persistent organic pollutant and highly hazardous pesticide reduction in Asia”, the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) joined the inception meeting on Financing for Agrochemicals Reduction and Management (FARM) Global Child Project at the United Nations Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya on March 12-15, 2024.

Representing the FPA were Executive Director Julieta B. Lansangan, and Ms. Maribel M. Querijero, OIC Deputy Executive Director for Pesticide and Chief of the Pesticide Regulations Division.

Spearheaded by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the FARM Global Child Project aims to catalyze regulatory and financial frameworks conducive to sustainable agricultural practices.

The importance of stakeholder engagement and collaboration, both at the national and international levels, served as a central theme for the meeting. Representatives from partner organizations, governmental agencies, and financial institutions shared their perspectives on realigning finance, policy, and enforcement parameters to support sustainable agriculture.

The sessions focused on communication strategies, gender mainstreaming, and monitoring and evaluation underscoring the comprehensive approach adopted by the FARM programme. The participants engaged in lively discussions on various aspects, including financing mechanisms, policy alignment, and capacity building.

Dir. Lansangan served as one of the panelists who discussed the Philippine regulation on biopesticides and shared insights on the project’s relevance to strengthening FPA’s regulations. On the other hand, Ms. Querijero presented the Philippine FARM Project.

As part of the event, the FPA delegates learned from the field visits to manufacturing facilities, providing them with first-hand insights into innovative agricultural practices, such as bioprotectants. These visits underscored the importance of knowledge exchange and collaboration in achieving FARM’s goals of enhancing food safety and environmental sustainability.

Dir. Lansangan said the transformative potential of the FARM initiative in promoting sustainable agriculture globally ignited their optimism as participants.

“The active engagement of diverse stakeholders and the exchange of expertise contributed to the program’s success in addressing the challenges posed by agrochemicals while fostering agricultural resilience and environmental stewardship,” she expressed. ###

  Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) Online ISSN: 2815-1674
  Published by the FPA Information and Communications Team

April 17, 2024 | Quezon City – The Information Section of the Planning, Management and Information Division (PMID) conducted its first face-to-face Certified Pesticide Applicator (CPA) and Accredited Responsible Care Officer (ARCO) examinations on April 10-11, 2024, at the FPA Central Office.

A total of 35 examinees, composed of fifteen (15) CPA Fumigators, five (5) CPA Exterminators, and fifteen (15) ARCO, participated.

Prior to the said exam, PMID released Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 03 Series of 2024, emphasizing the examination schedules for the year to be held at the FPA Central Office as follows:

• June 18-20, 2024
• August 27-29, 2024
• December 17-19, 2024

On February 21, 2024, MC No. 7 was released that provides clear guidelines for the conduct of CPA and ARCO examinations to ensure transparent and fair examination process. The MC also highlighted that FPA may determine special examination venues should there be a minimum of ten (10) examinees from a particular region or island cluster to promote inclusivity and accessibility of services.

FPA Regional Field Units and interested handlers or companies must directly coordinate with the Information Section for the conduct of special exams through email address: fpa77.exams@gmail.com.

Results of the recent examinations will be released on April 23, 2024. ###

  Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) Online ISSN: 2815-1674
  Published by the FPA Information and Communications Team

April 17, 2024 | Central Visayas – To ensure the quality of fertilizers in Central Visayas, the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) Region 7, together with Deputy Executive Director for Fertilizer, Dr. Myer G. Mula, inspected various fertilizer manufacturers and distributors across the province of Cebu and Negros Oriental on April 15-17, 2024.

The inspection team meticulously checked the weight accuracy, packaging, and marking requirements of the fertilizers being sold by area distributors, dealers, and manufacturers. A total of 173 out of 789 fertilizer bags from different brands and grades, including the four major grades (46-0-0, 0-0-60, 14-14-14, 21-0-0, 16-20-0, 18-46-0), were found to weigh less than the standard 50 kg net weight per bag.

The team emphasized the importance of meeting consistent product quality and provided recommendations to enhance production processes and equipment maintenance to prevent contamination.

The need for accurate calibration when using electronic weighing machines and proper handling to prevent damage during transport was also stressed.

FPA strongly advised the public, particularly farmers, to weigh fertilizer bags before purchase, thoroughly inspecting them for any physical defects or damages, and promptly seeking replacements, if necessary, as part of their inherent rights as end-users and protecting consumers.

The heightened inspections and enforcement actions aim to bolster the capability of local fertilizer manufacturers and maintain the integrity of agricultural products in Central Visayas. ###

  Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) Online ISSN: 2815-1674
  Published by the FPA Information and Communications Team

April 15, 2024 | Toledo City, Cebu – To ensure that product registration protocols are strictly followed by the industry, the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) Central Visayas, together with the FPA’s Deputy Executive Director for Fertilizer (DEDF) Dr. Myer G. Mula, monitored the Biological Efficacy Data Generation conducted by an FPA Accredited Researcher in Barangay Talavera, Toledo City, Cebu on April 15, 2024

During the trial inspection, the team was briefed on the treatment details of the experiment. Recommendations were made based on the crop stage and prevailing weather conditions. It was advised that irrigation is essential, particularly for shallow-rooted crops like rice during the critical milking stage. Alongside this advice, suggestions were provided for documenting the experiment through pictures and gathering essential data to assess the product’s effectiveness.

Products such as biostimulants are required to undergo bioefficacy testing as a mechanism to support claims of registrants on the effectiveness of a fertilizer to supply the major and minor nutrients needed by plants for growth and reproduction.

The FPA’s effort in monitoring biological efficacy experiments underscores its commitment to ensuring the efficacy and reliability of agricultural products. Such initiatives are vital for maintaining the integrity of agricultural practices and fostering sustainable growth in the agricultural sector. ###

  Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) Online ISSN: 2815-1674
  Published by the FPA Information and Communications Team