To improve the cooperative’s manufacturing practices, the Ministry of Science and Technology, along with Oxfam Pilipinas Women’s Economic Empowerment for Leadership in Development and Peace in Bangsamoro – whose main goal is to enhance the development of Halal Women Enterprises and Agri-value chain – has commenced their collaborative effort to assist the Sigay nu Babai Cooperative with their application for a Food and Drug Administration License to Operate and Halal Accreditation.

On March 4, 2024, the team went to the area at Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur, to facilitate the assessment of the cooperative’s current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). The assessment will determine the cooperative’s preparedness for FDA-LTO application. The assistance offered to the cooperative is Technical Assistance and Consultancy Services – Compliance with GMP for the production area. It will address technical challenges, enhance capabilities, and achieve desired outcomes.

In a statement, Monawara Abdulbadie, Chief Science Research Specialist of the S & T Services Division, pointed out that assistance in helping the cooperative acquire an FDA-LTO is crucial as it will ensure they adhere to regulatory standards and that food products are safe for human consumption.

“We continually assist our micro, small, and medium enterprises in acquiring the FDA License to Operate to ensure that they adhere to current Good Manufacturing Practices and regulatory standards. It will also enable them to produce food products that are safe, nutritious, and of high quality,” Chief Abdulbadie said.

The CGMP assessment is an essential requisite for food manufacturers, as compliance ensures they adhere to good manufacturing practices and that the food products they produce are safe for human consumption.

Furthermore, the assessment involved regulatory standard assessment, documentation review, physical inspection, hygiene practices, sanitation procedures, quality control, employee training, and other evaluation activities for food production assessment. This effort is crucial for MSMEs’ improvement to ensure the safety and quality of food products.

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