The Department of Agriculture, through the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, has ordered the immediate halt of the distribution and use of more than 11,000 bags of fertilizer in Oriental and Occidental Mindoro after uncovering violations that could trigger sanctions and possible blacklisting of the supplier.
At the center of the controversy is Agri-Victorious Trading Corp., which secured a contract to supply fertilizer under the DA’s program in Mindoro. While post-incident laboratory testing showed that the nutrient content and agronomic effectiveness of the fertilizer met required standards, regulators found that the products were delivered in sacks indicating an expired Certificate of Product Registration from the FPA.
The FPA is conducting an investigation and gathering pertinent documents to determine the appropriate legal actions against the supplier.
A total of 11,353 bags are now covered by a Stop Use, Move and Sale (SUMS) order, effectively freezing inventoried stocks pending further regulatory action. The DA clarified that the figure refers only to inventoried stocks under government monitoring and does not include volumes already distributed to farmer-beneficiaries before the expired registration was detected and the SUMS order issued.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said that compliance with registration requirements is non-negotiable. “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 validation teams were immediately activated upon confirmation of the expired registration. The agency has issued a Show Cause Order and *served notices of violation on the winning supplier*, requiring it to explain possible lapses in compliance, while laboratory analyses were undertaken to validate product conformity with bid specifications.
For his part, DA Mimaropa Regional Executive Director Christopher Bañas said government funds have not been released to pay for the questioned fertilizer delivery, noting that payment safeguards are built into procurement contracts to ensure delivery and rules compliance. He assured farmers who may have already received fertilizer from earlier batches that laboratory tests confirmed the nutrient content meets prescribed standards.
Bañas said local government units have been instructed to secure existing stocks and coordinate closely with the DA regional office while regulators complete verification and determine accountability.
Further directives are expected once the investigation is concluded, as authorities balance enforcement, due process and the need to protect both farmers and public funds.
