by Raadee Sausa December 22, 2020 Rep. Angelina Tan of Quezon (Screengrab from ht...
December 22, 2020
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| Rep. Angelina Tan of Quezon (Screengrab from https:// web.facebook.com/ DoktoraHelenTan/videos/ 236724921150672) |
LUCENA CITY - MEASURE seeking to regulate the trans-fat content in food was approved in committee at the House of Representatives on Wednesday.
The House committee on health approved the consolidation of four bills regulating the manufacture, importation, distribution and sale of food products with high levels of trans fats, also known as trans-fatty acids (TFA).
Rep. Angelina Tan of Quezon, one the bill’s authors, said TFA accounts for “500,000 deaths each year, globally, increases the risk of death by 34 percent, and coronary heart disease mortality and morbidity by 23 percent and 28 percent, respectively.”
“I believe that this important piece of legislation is significantly urgent, especially during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic where patients with comorbidities, such as coronary heart diseases, have a higher risk of serious illness or death,” the lawmaker said.
If signed into law, the measure will prohibit the manufacture, importation, distribution and sale of food products with hydrogenated oil (PHO); oils and fats made or blended with PHOs; or oils and fats with TFA content of more than two grams per 100 grams, excluding TFA content from ruminant sources.
Tan who is also a physician, emphasizes that trans-fat is a type of dietary fat and considered to be the worst for health. Too much intake of TFA increases the risk for health problems.
The measure hopes to require manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers of oils and fats, and food service establishments, to submit their inventory of food products to the Food and Drug Administration and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Under the measure, the DTI and local governments will develop policies and programs providing incentives for small businesses that voluntarily comply with the law.
The bill also tasks the Department of Health, in coordination with the Department of Science and Technology — Food and Nutrition Research Institute, to conduct regular screening and monitoring of TFA population consumption in the Expanded National Nutrition Survey.
Under the measure, first-time violators are liable for a fine of between P50,000 and P100,000 and face the suspension of their licenses and possible criminal and administrative proceedings.
In November, Tan also approved a bill seeking the stockpiling of medicines for public health emergencies like the current coronavirus pandemic.
The proposed “Health Procurement and Stockpiling Act,” which seeks to ensure supply of critical drugs, vaccines, devices and materials in times of public health emergencies.
Tan, who authored the bill, believes that the bill would help the country’s public health system be more resilient, especially in times of health emergencies such as the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
"The Covid-19 pandemic has shown the need to preposition critical and strategic pharmaceuticals and medical devices as well as the supply of raw materials. The country needs to be proactive in its response to public health emergencies,” she said.
The lawmaker said pandemic has caught the country and the world “flat footed” as it affected global and local production and distribution of pharmaceuticals and medical devices and the supply of raw materials, active pharmaceutical ingredients, excipients, packaging materials, including finished medical products needed to combat the pandemic and other diseases of public health.
In October, Tan regained the chairmanship of the House Committee on Health.
She was reelected as committee chair minutes before the House suspended session.
Tan, earlier, was removed in the escalating power struggle in the chamber as lawmakers approved on second reading the P4.5-trillion 2021 national budget upon Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano's motion.
"Personally, I did not see any reason why I was stripped from my post as a chairman on the committee on health because I was confident that I performed very well on my duties and responsibilities. So, I want to hear from Cayetano's mouth what and why is the reason I was replaced without due notice. I am not a delinquent person who uses position for political reason," she said.
"No one [told me], I was shocked. I cannot think of any way I would be removed because I'm working quietly on the committee on Health. Out of all of the House leaders removed, I may be the most surprised as to why I was removed," Tan added.
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