Authorities seized alleged unregistered palm and coconut cooking oil in Davao City.

According to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), an operation was conducted at a cooking oil facility on Monteverde corner Bangoy Street in Davao City for alleged violation of the Food and Drug Administration Act (RA 9711).

During the operation, a 23-year-old man was arrested and at least four tanks of palm and coconut cooking oil were confiscated.

Also seized were weighing scales, empty tanks, and containers. The total estimated value of the seized items is more than P3.1 million.

CIDG said that the man arrested, a resident of Barangay 23-C, Davao City, was allegedly caught in the act of selling and trading palm and coconut cooking oil, which are not duly registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

CIDG added that the facility also has no license to operate from the FDA, which is a violation of the RA 9711.

Authorities emphasized that the manufacture, importation, sale, offering for sale, distribution, transfer of health and food products without the required registration and authorization from FDA is prohibited.

“The distribution and selling of the unregistered substandard cooking oil is a clear circumvention of food safety standards requirements by the government. Since these food products have not gone through evaluation process of the FDA, its quality and safety cannot be assured,” CIDG said.