A PROPOSED ordinance banning the sale and resale of pharmaceutical products in sari-sari stores is making its way through the city council legislative process.
Proposed Ordinance 0032-22, authored by Councilor Joel Alangsab, seeks to prevent sari-sari stores from selling pharmaceutical products without registering with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Under Section 4 of the proposed ordinance, dispensing or otherwise allowing the sale of prescription drugs and pharmaceutical products in an establishment not licensed by the FDA, and or by a person who is not under direct and immediate supervision of a registered and licensed pharmacist is prohibited.
Sari-sari stores, if they wish to carry and sell pharmaceutical products, may apply for a limited authorization from the FDA to be allowed to sell household remedies and over-the-counter drugs specifically.
The ordinance also prohibits the sale or distribution in any form of counterfeit drugs and pharmaceutical products.
Under the ordinance, the penalty for a violation will start at fines of P1,000, increasing by P1,000 for each subsequent offense up to P3,000, where on the third and subsequent offenses the city may choose to mete out revocation of business permits instead of the fine.
