Food Technology Becomes a Newly Regulated Profession

The field of Food Technology becomes the newest addition to the number of professions currently regulated by the Professional Regulation Commission, with the signing of the Republic Act No. 11052, also known as “Philippine Food Technology Act”/ last June 29, 2018 by President Rodrigo R. Duterte. Under the law, the newly created Board of Food Technology is tasked to promulgate, administer, and enforce rules and regulations as well as supervise and regulate the registration, licensure, and practice of food technology in the country.

Coverage

The coverage of the practice of Food Technology shall include the following:

1. Identification of the appropriate specifications of raw materials and supervision over their procurement;
2. Supervision of food processing operations;
3. Evaluation of the microbiological, physical, chemical, sensory, and functional properties of food;
4. Certification of the analysis of microbiological, physical, chemical, sensory, and functional properties of food;
5. Technical transactions (e.g. sale, trading) of food, food ingredients, and additives, and machinery, equipment, and implements used in safe and quality food production and distribution;
6. Conduct of basic and applied research towards development and/or improvement of the safety and quality of food products;
7. Teaching, lecturing and reviewing of the professional subject in the curriculum of the Bachelor of Science in Food Technology degree or subject in the food technology licensure examination given in any college, university, or training or review center, or any other educational institution or certification body;
8. Compliance with food laws and regulations in the manufacturing and distribution of foods in the local and international market;
9. Implementation of quality management systems (food safety, laboratory management, quality requirements and quality audit);
10. Provision of assistance in waste management for environmental safety;
11. Consultation work related to any or all of the above functions; and
12. Procurement of chemicals, reagents, equipment, apparatus, and other materials for the conduct of food analysis, research, and development.

The Commission is continuously responding to its core mandate through the determination of the competence of our Filipino professionals in view of the global recognition.

Board Exam Qualifications

An applicant for the licensure examination for food technologist shall meet the following qualifications:

• He or she must be a Filipino citizen, or in the case of a foreigner, citizenship of the country or state that has a reciprocity agreement with the Philippines on the practice of food technology;
• Must be of good moral character;
• Must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Food Technology, conferred by a school, college or university recognized and duly accredited by the CHED;
• Must not have been convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude by a court of competent jurisdiction;

Exam Coverage

The licensure examination shall cover the following  subjects:

• Physical, Chemical, Biological, and Microbiological Principles;
• Food Processing, Preservation, and Food Engineering
• Quality Sensory Evaluation of Food; and
• Food Laws and Regulations

The  Professional Regulatory Board of Food Technology may revise or exclude any of the above subjects and add new ones as may be called for by the requirements of the industry and the profession.

Qualifications of the Members of the Board

The nomination for the members of the Professional Regulatory Board of Food Technology is now open. At the time of their respective appointments, the members of the Board, including the Chairperson, must be:

• A citizen and resident of the Philippines for the last five (5) years;
• A degree holder of a Bachelor of Science in Food Technology as conferred by a school, college, or university in the Philippines or abroad where its food technology program is recognized by the CHED;
• A duly-registered food technologist under RA. No. 11052, with a valid certificate of registration and professional license and has been in the active practice of the profession in the Philippines for at least 5 years prior to the appointment of the member;
• A member in good standing of the integrated and APO of food technologists; and
• A person without any pecuniary interest, directly or indirectly, in any school, academy, college, university, or institution conferring an academic degree necessary for admission to the practice of food technology or where review classes in preparation for the licensure examination are being offered or conducted, nor a member of the faculty or of the administration thereof at the time of the appointment of the member to the Board; and has not been convicted by any competent court of an offense involving moral turpitude.

For the term of office and compensations of the members of the Board, please see the RA no. 11052 sections 8-10.