Gov’t approves importation of poppy seeds; law prohibits it By Angie M. Rosales 02/16/2011

Gov’t approves importation of poppy seeds; law prohibits it

By Angie M. Rosales 02/16/2011

Importation into the country of poppy seeds for culinary use has the approval of the authorities even if the laws explicitly ban such, except for medicinal purposes, Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said yesterday.

Sotto’s latest revelations, following last Monday’s delivery of a privilege speech on poppy seeds, showed that the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), formerly the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD), had issued permits to food establishments that make use of such as ingredients to their products.

“I think they should be the ones subjected to an investigation (here in the Senate). It’s in the law RA 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) that any form of opium, poppy seeds, any poppy derivatives is prohibited in the country,” the senator said in an interview with reporters in response to the claims made by FDA officials that dried poppy seeds are the ones allowed in the country since the use of it had been approved by the United States government.

Sotto said he called up the US’ Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) representatives in the country, Kent Merchant and Robert Cast, to verify such claims by the FDA to which was denied to him..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110216nat4.html