The Republic Act No. 10611 also known as Food Safety Act of 2013 mandates the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) as a Food Safety Regulatory Agency (FSRA) under the Department of Agriculture (DA). The Plant Product Safety Services Division (PPSSD) under the BPI is tasked to undertake responsibilities relevant to food safety of fresh and minimally processed plant foods from primary production to post-harvest stages of the food supply chain.
VISION/MISSION
Vision
PPSSD is an internationally recognized regulatory office in providing competent efficient and quality services responsive to the need of plant food stakeholders.
Mission
We ensure safe plant food from primary production to post harvest stages of the food supply chain through effective food control system and laboratory services.
FUNCTIONS
Enforces food safety control on plant foods;
Intensifies the monitoring system of contaminants and pesticide residue to assure the supply of safe food for the consumers;
Provides laboratory services for microbiological examination, physico-chemical analysis, pesticide formulation and pesticide residue analysis; and
Coordinates with other local and international authorities on activities relevant to the functions of the Division.
SECTIONS AND LABORATORIES
Accreditation and Inspection Section (AIS)
Composed of Food Safety Unit, PhilGAP Unit and Risk Assessment Unit and is tasked to:
Inspect packinghouses and establishments for compliances to food safety standards and regulations involved in the distribution of fresh and minimally processed fruits and vegetables;
Inspect packinghouses of fresh agricultural produce intended for export and domestic markets for compliance to food safety standards and regulations;
Conducts food safety risk assessment of plants and plant products for market access and those derived from modern biotechnology; and
Implements Philippine Good Agricultural Practices (PhilGAP) Program
Contaminants Laboratory Section (CLS)
Composed of Microbiology Unit and Chemistry Unit, and is tasked to:
Monitor chemical and microbiological contaminants and biotoxins; and
Provide physico-chemical and microbiological analytical services for fresh and minimally processed agricultural produce.
Pesticide Analytical Laboratory Section (PALS)
Composed of Pesticide Residue Unit and Formulation Analysis Unit, both scopes are ISO / IEC 17025:2005 certified, tasked to:
Monitor pesticide residue level in locally produced and imported agricultural commodities; and
Provide analytical services for pesticide residues and formulation to various stakeholders.
Four (4) satellite pesticide analytical laboratories are tasked to monitor pesticide residue of local agricultural produce which are strategically located in:
SPAL Baguio (covers Regions I, II and Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR)
SPAL Cebu (covers Regions VI, VII and VIII)
SPAL Cagayan de Oro (covers Regions IX, X, Caraga)
SPAL Davao (covers Regions XI, XII and ARMM)
SERVICES OFFERED CERTIFICATE OF ACCREDITATION
PhilGAP Certification;
Accreditation of Plant Food Testing Laboratory;
Pesticide Residue Analysis;
Physico-Chemical Analysis (ash, moisture, specific gravity, total nitrogen, percentage of total crude protein, total acidity;
Microbiological Analysis (standard plate count, yeast and mold count, coliform count and Salmonella);
Aflatoxin Analysis;
Analysis of Heavy Metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead)
FORMS: GAP-F01 – PhilGAP Application Form GAP-F01A - ANNEX A – Production and Harvesting Records GAP-F01B - ANNEX B – List of Fertilizers, Pesticides and Other
Agricultural Chemicals PPSSD-01A - Request for Analysis (Pesticide Analytical Laboratory Section) PPSSD-01B - Request for Analysis (Contaminants Laboratory Section)
GUIDELINES DC03_S2016 - Guidelines on the Accreditation of Plant Food Testing Laboratories AC01_S2018 - Rules and Regulations on the Certification of Philippine Good Agricultural Practices (PhilGAP) for Crops, Superseding Administrative Circular No. 10 Series 2013.
