Govt vows tougher crackdown vs Chinese sex toys, enhancers
11/20/2009 | 12:21 PM
Authorities vowed tougher action Friday on unregistered Chinese sex toys and enhancing drugs, following the seizure of P1.5 million worth of such items in Manila Thursday.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) head Nancy Tacandong admitted in a radio interview they lack still coordination with law enforcers and importers of Chinese medicines.
“It is one big problem of the FDA, so we will have to form a technical working group to coordinate with Chinese drug importers and drugstores. In the first place, we do not even understand the Chinese documentation on Chinese medicines," Tacandong said in an interview on dzRH radio.
She said that while the FDA presently does not have the capability to register Chinese medicines, many Chinese drugstores in Manila’s Chinatown district are registered with the government.
Tacandong said the government allowed some sort of autonomy for these Chinese drugstores, on the assumption that Chinese pharmacists can understand and prepare Chinese medications.
“Originally, Chinese drugstores employed Chinese doctors and pharmacists who can read and prepare Chinese medications. But now, there are few Chinese druggists left and the pharmacists are now Filipinos who may not understand how to prepare Chinese medication," she said.
On the other hand, she said the FDA will have to coordinate more closely with law enforcers, noting her agency was not informed about Thursday’s raid.
Last Thursday, Manila police seized some P1.5 million worth of fake sex enhancers and sex toys without license from the FDA, following a raid on a mall in Manila’s Binondo district.
“We have to coordinate better with police. As far as I know, we were not informed of Thursday’s raid," Tacandong said.
Tacandong also said the FDA plans to inspect facilities of Chinese drug firms abroad, to see if they comply with good manufacturing standards.
She said her agency will likewise improve its coordination with its counterparts abroad. - GMANews.TV
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) head Nancy Tacandong admitted in a radio interview they lack still coordination with law enforcers and importers of Chinese medicines.
“It is one big problem of the FDA, so we will have to form a technical working group to coordinate with Chinese drug importers and drugstores. In the first place, we do not even understand the Chinese documentation on Chinese medicines," Tacandong said in an interview on dzRH radio.
She said that while the FDA presently does not have the capability to register Chinese medicines, many Chinese drugstores in Manila’s Chinatown district are registered with the government.
Tacandong said the government allowed some sort of autonomy for these Chinese drugstores, on the assumption that Chinese pharmacists can understand and prepare Chinese medications.
“Originally, Chinese drugstores employed Chinese doctors and pharmacists who can read and prepare Chinese medications. But now, there are few Chinese druggists left and the pharmacists are now Filipinos who may not understand how to prepare Chinese medication," she said.
On the other hand, she said the FDA will have to coordinate more closely with law enforcers, noting her agency was not informed about Thursday’s raid.
Last Thursday, Manila police seized some P1.5 million worth of fake sex enhancers and sex toys without license from the FDA, following a raid on a mall in Manila’s Binondo district.
“We have to coordinate better with police. As far as I know, we were not informed of Thursday’s raid," Tacandong said.
Tacandong also said the FDA plans to inspect facilities of Chinese drug firms abroad, to see if they comply with good manufacturing standards.
She said her agency will likewise improve its coordination with its counterparts abroad. - GMANews.TV
