Alabang, Muntinlupa City. In a pivotal gathering today, the Philippine Paint & Coatings Association Inc. (PPCAI) intensified its stance on the regulatory landscape affecting the paint and coatings industry. With looming deadlines for Certificate of Product Registration (CPR) as mandated by the Household and Urban Hazardous Substances (HUHS) Law, PPCAI's leadership convened to strategize a path forward in response to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) latest extension, which only runs through the end of the year.
The meeting, led by PPCAI President Reginald Yu and HUHS Task Force Chairman Diosdado Cheng, took place at the Laguna Ballroom of Bellevue Manila, drawing key figures in the industry together to debate the necessity and impact of the impending regulations. Among those in attendance were thirteen manufacturing members and seven additional participants joining via an online platform, highlighting the collective concern and need for a unified approach.
During the two-hour session, the focus was squarely on immediate actions. Central to the discussions was a draft letter to the FDA, prepared by PPCAI’s HUHS Consultant, Attorney Lorna Filipino. The letter outlines a significant proposal – commissioning an independent third-party Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) to scrutinize the hazards associated with paints and coatings. The core argument presented suggests that the paint and coatings industry should not be subject to the stringent regulations proposed by the FDA, given the absence of these products from the original list of hazardous materials identified by the law.
PPCAI's approach marks a critical juncture. By proposing a RIA, the association aims to gather empirical data to support its assertion that the mandatory registration under the FDA could be suspended. This move comes after the industry, although reluctantly, has begun complying with the CPR requirements set forth by the FDA.
The legal pathway, such as seeking declaratory relief, now appears off the table as the industry has already embarked on the registration process. However, PPCAI’s proactive stance seeks to engage with the FDA from a position backed by data and comprehensive analysis, hoping for a suspension or reassessment of the current regulatory demands.
If the FDA agrees to validate PPCAI’s RIA findings, this could pave the way for a reevaluation of the necessity and scope of CPR for paints and coatings, potentially alleviating a significant regulatory burden on the industry.
As the deadline for CPR implementation draws closer, the outcomes of today’s meeting and the subsequent interactions with the FDA will be critical in determining the future regulatory landscape for the paint and coatings industry in the Philippines. PPCAI’s leadership remains committed to advocating for what it believes will best serve both the industry and its stakeholders, emphasizing safety, sustainability, and scientific evidence in its ongoing dialogue with regulatory bodies.
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