About P4.2 million worth of COVID-19 rapid test kits were confiscated from online sellers in Pasig City on Tuesday (Aug. 17).
In an operation conducted by Philippine Air Force (PAF) agents and members of the Quezon City District Field Unit-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (QCDFU-CIDG), four males were apprehended for selling COVID-19 rapid test kits online.
PAF said in a statement on Wednesday (Aug. 18) that a total of 21,000 Konsung brand COVID-19 test kits that cost P200 each were confiscated from the suspects. They were brought to QCDFU-CIDG and will face charges for violating Republic Act No. 9711.
“By virtue of Republic Act No. 9711, otherwise known as the Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009, the FDA is mandated to protect the health and safety of the Filipino people by regulating the manufacture, importation, distribution, sale, offering for sale, advertisement, and promotion of health products, including in-vitro diagnostic medical devices in the country,” the advisory states.
Under the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Advisory No. 2021-0434, the online selling of FDA-certified COVID-19 test kits is prohibited.
Included in the types of FDA-certified COVID-19 test kits that are prohibited for online sale are RT-PCR, antibody, and antigen-based test kits. – Report from PTV News / CF – jlo
