ARTA urges FDA to streamline registration process of vaccines, medical supplies

The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) on Tuesday urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to streamline the registration process of vaccines and medical supplies amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

ARTA Director General Jeremiah Belgica said the processing time for the certificate of product registration (CPR) should not go beyond 20 days “since this is a highly technical transaction.”

“Except for justifiable reasons provided in writing, any applications pending beyond the prescribed processing time is already punishable under Section 21 of Republic Act 11032. This point is particularly critical for the approval of CPR for vaccine applications,” he said in a statement.

Vaccines and other medical products that have already been cleared by the respective FDAs of other reputable countries should also be considered as cleared and reliable so as not to belabor the process, Belgica said.

“Umaasa kami na mas streamlined na talaga ang magiging proseso diyan at tayo naman po ay nakaantabay,” the ARTA official said at the Laging Handa briefing on Tuesday.—LDF, GMA News