Seminar on Food Safety-related Philippine National Standards (PNS) for DA Food Safety Regulatory Agencies (FSRAs)
The DA-BAFS successfully conducted the Seminar on Food Safety-related Philippine National Standards (PNS) for DA Food Safety Regulatory Agencies (FSRAs) on June 17-19, 2026, in Quezon City. The three-day activity aimed to strengthen the capacity of technical personnel from DA-FSRAs to understand and apply selected food safety-related PNS, focusing particularly on risk analysis and risk-based decision-making.
Representatives from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), and Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) participated in the seminar.
Experts from the University of the Philippines Diliman – College of Home Economics (UPD-CHE), Dr. Abigail S. Rustia and Ms. Patricia Mae M. Lagazon, discussed key concepts and standards, including the Codex Alimentarius Commission Risk Analysis Framework, PNS Working Principles for Risk Analysis for Food Safety Application by Governments, Basic Microbiology (Food Safety, Contamination, and Hazards), and PNS Principles and Guidelines for the Conduct of Microbiological Risk Assessment. Meanwhile, Dr. Pierangeli G. Vital from the University of the Philippines Diliman – Natural Sciences Research Institute (UPD-NSRI) discussed PNS Risk Management Options in Light of Different Risk Assessment Outcomes – Information Document and PNS Application of General Principles of Food Hygiene to the Control of Foodborne Parasites – Guidelines.
Participants also engaged in hands-on workshops on risk profiling and risk management strategies, where they presented their outputs and received expert feedback.
