MANILA – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) warned on Monday that firms selling unregistered self-test antigen test kits for Covid-19 could be held liable and penalized.
DTI Assistant Secretary and Consumer Protection Group Head Ann Claire Cabochan said that this comes amid the rise of sellers of allegedly overpriced self-test kits online.
“For as long as it had not been authorized to be sold in the Philippines, it should not be sold whether in physical stores or in online store,” she said in a Laging Handa public briefing.
There are currently no self-administered antigen test kits registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Last week, DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III directed the FDA to prepare for the approval of registered self-test antigen test kits for Covid-19.
“First, we have to make a distinction. Iyong (Those) self-test kits, because they are not yet registered, they are not yet certified by the FDA as a product that can be sold in our market, wala po iyang SRP (they do not have suggested retail price),” Cabochan said.
She stated that the DTI is collaborating with the FDA to expedite applications for certificates of product registration required to sell these self-test kits.
“Pinag-aaralan po iyan (It is being studied) and I know that the FDA is fast tracking any applications for certificate of product registration to be issued. So, wala po iyang SRP, iyong mga self-test kits at this time, kasi wala pa naman talaga silang registration from FDA. (So they these self-test kits have no SRP because they have no registration from FDA),” she said.
Stable paracetamol supply
Meanwhile, Cabochan guaranteed that the supply of paracetamol, which can be used to treat mild Covid-19 symptoms, is likely to normalize after drugstores replenished their stock.
“Nagkaroon lang talaga po ng (There was just an) overwhelming demand. But last week, we have already received reports because we were working very closely with the manufacturers of these products, as well the drugstore, iyong (the) association of drugstore,” she said.
She said that since January 5, when several paracetamol brands ran out of supply in select drugstores, the country’s main drugstores have been refilling their inventory.
“We are anticipating na (that) over the weekend ay magno-normalize na iyong situation kasi makakarating na ng distribution channels, iyong mga major drugstores po natin (the situation will normalize because they will reach distribution channels, our major drugstores),” she added.
Now that the replenishment has been made, she said “there is more than enough supply” and that “manufacturers will continue to produce as they have in the past.”
She also reaffirmed her warning against the selling of counterfeit drugs, stressing that they might face penalties, imprisonment, or both if caught.
Under Republic Act (RA) No. 8203 or the Special Law on Counterfeit Drugs, persons who manufacture, sell and distribute fake drugs will face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and PHP5 million fine “should a counterfeit drug be the proximate cause of death of a victim.”
RA 9711 or the Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009 also prohibits the importation, selling or offering for sale of counterfeit medicines.
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