OFFICERS from the Food & Drug Adminstration (FDA) Regional Office I, San Fernando, La Union, conducted a quality inspection audit last October 27 relative to the Application for License to Operate (LTO) of the Meat Processing Plant of the NTA AgriPinoy Tobacco Farmers Food Processing and Trading Center in Nanguneg, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur.

The inspection team, composed of Purisima Lozano, Ludivina Quitevis, and Joselyn Guzman, inspected the Meat Processing section.

This is the initial inspection for the Application for LTO, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Inspection based on Administrative Order No. 153, s. 2004 or the Revised Guidelines on Current GMP on Manufacturing, Packing, Repacking, or Holding Food.

They were assisted during the inspection by Noralyn I. Idica, Administrative Officer-Designate; Diosdado L. Maduli, Operations Division Head; Clemencia B. Franco, Quality Control Officer; and Crisanto A. Ibbay, Inventory/Stocks Control Officer.

The Inspection Team found that, generally, NTA-APP is compliant to the General Guidelines of A.O. 153, s. 2004 in all aspects which include GMP Organization, Premises, Equipment, Sanitation and Hygiene, Production and Process Controls, Quality Control, Documentation, Quality Audits, Warehousing and Distribution, and Product Recall and Retention Sample .

The team found few deficiencies which they said "it is normal" and asked NTA-APP to accomplish the Corrective Action/Preventive Action (CAPA) Plan and submit within nonextendable period of 10 calendar days reckoned on the following day of receipt of summary of observation/findings.

The facility had been issued an "AA" Accreditation by the NMIS for the past two years but the regulatory functions for Meat Processing Operations was transferred to FDA, hence, the application for LTO.

Before this, the TESDA Regional Office conducted a compliance and technical audit last September 7 and October 11. TESDA Auditors Loelith dela Torre, Susan May Loranzana, and Argie Mappala found that both the NTA AgriPinoy Training School and the NTA AgriPinoy Assessment Center are compliant with the rules and regulations governing the offering of Technical Vocational Education and Training Programs prescribed by TESDA.