Selling Food, Drugs, Cosmetics, and Medical Devices in the Philippines

A lot of Filipinos and foreigners alike would like to sell food, drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices in the Philippines. However, one cannot just engage in this business without a license from the Philippine government.

The government agency in charge of issuing licenses to businesses who would like to engage in the business of selling these regulated items is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the Philippines.

Here’s a quick procedure in a nutshell:

First, you need to get a License to Operate from FDA. Because of the volume of applications received by FDA, this process normally takes between three months, but we can help you expedite the process to one month. You can register as a sole proprietor, but because of liability issues, it is recommended to form a corporation that will engage in this business and be licensed by FDA. You’ll need a Philippine address and Filipino stockholders if you will be engaging in retail.

Second, for every product you intend to sell, you need a Certificate of Product Registration from FDA. This normally takes a minimum of six months, but in reality, it can take almost 18 months for drugs. Having previously worked with FDA, we know the ins and outs of the business and can help expedite this process for you.

Together with our team of FDA-registered licensed pharmacists, we will help you check, review, and evaluate dossiers. For example, some supplements require registration as a drug, while some require registration as a food. In order not to make a mistake and save time and resources, consult with a professional. Call us now.