Person using laptop to verify supplement on FDA Philippines portal

Paano I-Verify ang Supplement sa FDA Philippines

Don't trust marketing claims. This step-by-step guide shows you how to check any product yourself—before you buy or use it.

2 min read

Quick Answer (TL;DR)

Before buying any food supplement in the Philippines, you should:

  1. Check the product label for a "CPR No." or "FR-xxxx" number
  2. Verify that number on the FDA Philippines Verification Portal
  3. Check FDA Advisories for public health warnings about the product or brand

Why does this matter?

"FDA approved" on marketing materials doesn't always mean what you think:

  • Some claims refer to ingredients or manufacturing — not the specific product you're buying
  • Some products are unregistered — they're being sold without FDA oversight
  • Some brands have active warnings — the FDA has flagged them for safety concerns

Verification takes 5 minutes. It's worth it for your safety.

FDA Philippines Verification Portal interface illustration
The FDA Verification Portal: verification.fda.gov.ph

How to Verify a Supplement (Step by Step)

  1. 1

    Check the product label

    Look for "CPR No." or "FR-xxxx" printed on the packaging. This is the Certificate of Product Registration number.

  2. 2

    Go to the FDA Verification Portal

    Open https://verification.fda.gov.ph/ in your browser.

  3. 3

    Search by CPR number

    Enter the exact CPR/FR number from the label. Click Search.

  4. 4

    Review the results

    If the product is registered, you'll see: Product Name, Company, Registration Status, Validity Dates.

  5. 5

    Check FDA Food Advisories

    Go to https://www.fda.gov.ph/category/food-advisories/ and search for the brand or product name.

  6. 6

    No results? Red flag.

    If the portal shows no record or says "record not found," the product may be unregistered.

CPR vs LTO: Know the Difference

Some sellers show "FDA documents" that don't actually prove product registration. Here's what to know:

DocumentWhat It MeansWhat It DOESN'T Mean
CPR (Certificate of Product Registration)
Format: FR-xxxx		 The specific product has been registered with FDA —
LTO (License to Operate)
Format: CFRR-xxxx or similar		 The establishment/company is licensed to operate Does NOT prove any specific product is registered

Example scenario

A seller shows you an LTO document. This proves the company has a license to operate—but it does NOT prove that the product you're buying is registered. You still need to verify the specific product CPR.

Rule of thumb: Always ask for the CPR number (FR-xxxx) and verify it yourself on the portal.

Comparison infographic: CPR (product registration) vs LTO (company license)
CPR proves the product is registered. LTO only proves the company can operate.

Red Flags to Watch For

  • ❌ No CPR number on the label — All registered food supplements should display this
  • ❌ Seller says "FDA approved" but can't provide CPR — Request the specific number
  • ❌ Portal shows "record not found" — The product may be unregistered
  • ❌ FDA advisory exists for the brand — Check food advisories page
  • ❌ Claims that seem too good to be true — "Cures diabetes," "guaranteed results," etc.

What if a product fails verification?

If you can't verify a product, consider:

  1. Contacting the seller to request the CPR number
  2. Choosing a different product that you CAN verify
  3. Reporting the product to FDA Philippines if you believe it's being sold illegally

Want to see this in practice?

In our HolyHerbs review, we walk through what we found (and didn't find) when verifying this specific product:

Read: HolyHerbs Review Philippines (2026) — Verification + Ingredients + Safety

Frequently Asked Questions

Saan ko makikita ang CPR number ng supplement?
Check the product label or packaging. Look for "CPR No." or "FR-xxxx" — this is the registration number to verify.
Ano ang FDA Verification Portal?
It's the official PH FDA website where you can search for registered products: verification.fda.gov.ph
Ano ang difference ng CPR at LTO?
CPR = product registration (proves THIS product is registered). LTO = company license (proves company can operate, but NOT that specific products are registered).
Pano kung walang record sa portal?
Red flag. The product may be unregistered. Contact the seller for the CPR number, or choose a verifiable product.
Libre ba mag-verify sa FDA portal?
Yes. The FDA Verification Portal is free and open to the public.

References

  1. [1] FDA Philippines Verification Portal. ` Source
  2. [2] FDA Philippines Food Advisories. ` -- Source
Read HolyHerbs Review