MANILA — The Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA), has ordered the immediate suspension of the distribution and use of more than 11,000 bags of fertilizer in Oriental and Occidental Mindoro due to regulatory violations that may lead to sanctions and possible blacklisting of the supplier.

The supplier, Agri-Victorious Trading Corp., had secured a contract to provide fertilizer under the DA’s program in Mindoro. Although laboratory tests conducted after the issue surfaced showed that the fertilizer met required nutrient content and agronomic standards, regulators found that the sacks bore an expired Certificate of Product Registration issued by the FPA.

The FPA has launched an investigation and is collecting relevant documents to determine possible legal actions against the company.

A total of 11,353 bags are covered by a Stop Use, Move and Sale (SUMS) order, effectively preventing the movement and utilization of inventoried stocks while regulatory review is ongoing. The DA clarified that the figure applies only to stocks currently inventoried under government monitoring and does not include fertilizer already distributed to farmer-beneficiaries before the expired registration was discovered and the SUMS order imposed.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. stressed that adherence to registration rules is mandatory.

“Farmers depend on us to ensure that every input they receive is properly registered, validated and safe. Any product without a valid registration has no place in the market,” he said.

FPA Executive Director Glenn Estrada said enforcement and technical teams were immediately mobilized after confirming the expired registration. The agency has issued a Show Cause Order and served notices of violation on the winning supplier, directing it to explain possible compliance lapses, while laboratory tests were conducted to confirm that the product met bid specifications.

For his part, DA Mimaropa Regional Executive Director Christopher Bañas said government funds have yet to be released for the questioned delivery. He noted that procurement contracts include safeguards to ensure compliance before payment is made. He also assured farmers who may have received fertilizer from earlier batches that laboratory analyses showed the nutrient content complies with prescribed standards.

Bañas added that local government units have been instructed to secure existing stocks and coordinate with the DA regional office as regulators complete verification and determine accountability.

Authorities are expected to issue further directives once the investigation concludes, as the government seeks to uphold enforcement measures while safeguarding farmers and public funds.