FDA to start processing certification of ‘non-abortifacient’ contraceptives next week

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will start processing the certification and re-certification for contraceptive products considered legal, non-abortifacient and effective by next week, its director general said Monday.

"The FDA will be starting its process, as per for the Supreme Court's direction to follow the due process, on August 21," FDA director general Charade Puno said during the budget briefing for the Department of Health at the House of Representatives.

"We will be doing our posting, our publication of notice of certification," Puno added.

The high court had directed the DOH and FDA to formulate guidelines, procedures in the screening, evaluation, approval, purchase and distribution of all contraceptive drugs that will be used under the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law, taking into account the need to observe due process such as notice and hearing.

Puno said that by September 30 to first week of October, the FDA may issue the certificate of product registrations "to be able to re-certify the first batch of contraceptives."

Albay Representative Edcel Lagman, who asked the FDA for an update on the certification of the contraceptive products, said he is "looking forward to the start of the certification process."

In 2015, the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO), preventing the DOH from "procuring, selling, distributing, dispensing or administering, advertising and promoting" the hormonal contraceptive Implanon and Implanon NXT.

Pro-life group Alliance for the Family Foundation Philippines (ALFI), who secured the TRO, said the implants, which prevent ovulation for three years, have abortifacient features which the Food and Drug Administration allegedly approved without consulting the public.

In September 2016, the high court decided to uphold its TRO, despite the government's argument that the TRO would result in the depleted supply of contraceptive drugs and devices in both accredited public health facilities and in the commercial market.

But the Supreme Court said that a set of guidelines and procedures will "provide sufficient details as to the manner by which said product and supply shall be strictly regulated in order that they will not be used as an abortifacient and in order to sufficiently safeguard the right to life of the unborn." — Erwin Colcol/RSJ, GMA News