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Banana chips are processed food, so you need an FDA License to Operate as a food manufacturer and a Certificate of Product Registration for each product. FDA fees for applications filed from 12 January 2025 follow AO 2024-0016. You also need a city sanitary permit and health certificates, which the FDA may accept from microenterprises in place of a Certificate of Compliance.[6 sources]
Start with the city, then the FDA
A sanitary permit from the city or municipal health office is required to operate any food establishment open to the public, and its fee is set by local ordinance. Every employee of a food establishment needs a health certificate.[3,4]
For a microenterprise food manufacturer, FDA may accept the LGU sanitary permit and health certificates in place of a Certificate of Compliance.[5]
That makes the order simple: get your local papers first, then use them in your FDA application.
FDA licence and product registration
The initial License to Operate for food manufacturers is tiered by capital. FDA Advisory 2025-0032 says fees for applications filed from 12 January 2025 follow the newer fee order, AO 2024-0016, so ask FDA for your amount. You apply on the FDA e-Portal, and processing takes 20 working days.[1,6]
Each product then needs a Certificate of Product Registration, with its fee set under the same order.[2,6]
If you plan several flavors or pack sizes, such as plain, sweet and spicy, ask the FDA how many registrations you need before you print packaging.
Cooking at home
Many banana chips makers start in a home kitchen. The sanitary inspector will look at the space you use, so keep a separate, clean area for frying and packing, away from pets and laundry. Our home-based business guide covers the barangay and city side.
Banana chips prep list
- Set up a clean, separate frying and packing area
- Get health certificates for everyone who handles the chips
- Apply for the sanitary permit at the health office
- Note your capital to find your FDA fee tier
- Apply for the FDA License to Operate on the e-Portal
- List each flavor and pack size before registering products
Questions people ask
- How much is the FDA LTO for banana chips?
- FDA sets it by capital tier. FDA Advisory 2025-0032 says fees for applications filed from 12 January 2025 follow the newer fee order, AO 2024-0016, so ask FDA for your amount.
- How long does the FDA licence take?
- FDA lists 20 working days for an initial License to Operate for food manufacturers.
- Do I need a Certificate of Compliance?
- For a microenterprise, FDA may accept your LGU sanitary permit and health certificates instead.
Sources
Checked 13 November 2026. We link the agency's own page for every requirement. Rules change; confirm with the office before you pay.
- VII. License to Operate – Initial Application for Food Manufacturers · Food and Drug Administration Philippines · August 2023
- CFRR Citizen's Charter 2023 · Food and Drug Administration Philippines (Center for Food Regulation and Research) · June 2023
- Implementing Rules and Regulations of Chapter III, Food Establishments, of P.D. No. 856 · Department of Health (text via Supreme Court E-Library) · 29 December 1995
- Presidential Decree No. 856 (Code on Sanitation of the Philippines) · Lawphil (text of PD 856) · 23 December 1975
- Administrative Order No. 2014-0029: Rules and Regulations on the Licensing of Food Establishments and Registration of Processed Food, and Other Food Products · Department of Health / FDA (text via FAO FAOLEX) · 8 September 2014
- FDA Advisory No.2025-0032 || Effectivity of Administrative Order No. 2024-0016 · Food and Drug Administration Philippines · January 2025
The extra permits, in one table
| Permit or registration | Agency | When it applies | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| FDA Licence to Operate[1] | Food and Drug Administration (FDA) | when you process/pack food for sale | assessed by FDA under AO 2024-0016 (see the FDA fee row) |
| Certificate of Product Registration[2] | Food and Drug Administration (FDA) | each processed food product sold | assessed by FDA under AO 2024-0016 (see the FDA fee row) |
| Sanitary permit[3] | City/municipal health office (LGU) | always | set by city/municipal ordinance (IRR Sec. 3(a)3); no national amount |
| Health certificate for every food handler/employee[4] | City/municipal health office (LGU) | always | set by the city or town |
| Microenterprise manufacturers: LGU sanitary permit and health certificates may be accepted by FDA instead of a Certificate of Compliance[5] | FDA (DOH) | if a microenterprise applying for FDA LTO | Not published |
| FDA fees for applications filed from 12 January 2025…[6] | FDA | when you process/pack food for sale | assessed by FDA under AO 2024-0016 |