mainstreaming of remote audits, the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Agriculture and
Fisheries Standards (DA-BAFS) joined Assistant Secretary for Policy and Regulations Paz
J. Benavidez II, head of the Philippine delegation, in representing the Philippines at the Vienna
Food Safety Forum held from June 9 to 13, 2025.
A key highlight of the event was Session 7: “Remote Audit and Inspection Practices for
Enhanced Regulatory Collaboration and Oversight: Putting a Standard into Practice,”
which focused on implementing the Codex standard (CXG 102-2023) within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The session explored how remote audits and inspections—originally popularized during the COVID-19 pandemic- can be institutionalized as standard regulatory practices, especially in hard-to-reach food establishments.
BAFS Officer-in-Charge, Director Mary Grace R. Mandigma served as one of the panelists of Session 7. She joined a distinguished lineup of food safety leaders from across the ASEAN region. The session emphasized the importance of harmonizing the conduct of both remote audits and on-site audits, noting that the decision to conduct remote audits should be
based on risk, particularly in ASEAN countries, where logistical and geographical challenges can hinder traditional inspection processes.
The Philippine delegation also shared insights on the Philippines’ initiatives in actively pursuing digitalization to enhance efficiency, traceability, and compliance with food safety standards, while juggling with trade systems at the same time.
The Philippines’ experience in integrating digital technologies, data-driven tools, and international standards to improve food regulatory oversight is a key pillar of the Food Safety Strategic Plan of the Department of Agriculture. As part of this plan, the DA is targeting the digital transformation of its platform to at least seven regulatory processes, aiming to achieve
a 60% increase in stakeholder engagement through improved transparency in food safety information.
DA-BAFS’ participation highlights the Philippines’ active role in shaping the future of food safety through innovation and international collaboration. The agency’s contributions to the forum added valuable perspective to regional dialogues on how standards like CXG 102-2023 are adopted and localized, while also opening up future collaboration in several areas with other ASEAN countries.
As food systems become increasingly complex and globalized, the Vienna Food Safety Forum and its key sessions mark a significant step toward creating more resilient, transparent, and tech-enabled food safety standards. ###
by: DGPascua
