Every legitimate supplement, medicine and many health products sold in the Philippines is on record with the Food and Drug Administration. Checking takes about two minutes, it is free, and it is the single most useful thing you can do before buying wellness products online.
The FDA publishes its registration records in a public search tool, the FDA Verification Portal at verification.fda.gov.ph. You do not need an account. This page shows you how to use it, and what a mismatch looks like.
Step by step
How to check a product in five steps
- Find the registration numberLook on the label, the box, or the listing description and photos. It usually starts with letters such as FR-, DR-, DRP- or HRP-. No number anywhere? Write down the exact brand and product name instead.
- Open the portalGo to verification.fda.gov.ph and type the number (or the brand name) into the search box.
- Pick the right tabResults are grouped into tabs such as Food CPR (supplements and food), Drug CPR (medicines) and FDA Advisory (public warnings). Check each one that has results.
- Match every fieldThe brand, the product description, the company and the validity date should all match the product you are about to buy, not just the number.
- Check the advisoriesSearch the brand name once more and open the FDA Advisory tab. If the product, or one like it, is named in a public health warning, do not buy it.
Read the number
What the letters at the start tell you
The prefix tells you what kind of product the FDA registered it as, and therefore what it is allowed to claim.
| Number starts with | Registered as | What it may claim |
|---|---|---|
| FR- | Food or food supplement | Supplements are registered “with NO APPROVED THERAPEUTIC CLAIMS”. They may not claim to treat, cure or prevent disease. |
| DR-, DRP-, DR-XY | Drug (over-the-counter or prescription) | The approved uses printed on its label. |
| HRP-, DRHR- | Household remedy | A drug category of its own, with approved uses on the label. |
Worked example
A real check, start to finish
One vitamin C listing on Shopee prints its registration number in the description: FR-4000014622661. Searching that number on the portal returns one Food CPR record:
| Field on the FDA record | What it says | Does it match the listing? |
|---|---|---|
| Registration number | FR-4000014622661 | Yes |
| Brand | DR. DAILY | Yes |
| Product | Vitamin C (sodium ascorbate) 800 mg food supplement tablet, registered with no approved therapeutic claims | Mostly. The listing calls it a capsule |
| Company | Ascend Nutraceuticals Inc. | Not stated in the listing |
| Valid until | September 2027 | Yes, still valid |
Verdict: the product is registered, and it is a food supplement, so any listing promising to “boost immunity” is going beyond what its registration allows. The capsule-or-tablet wording is a small inconsistency worth knowing about, not a reason to panic.
Red flags
What a mismatch looks like
- 01The number belongs to something elseA real registration number copied onto a different product, brand or company. The number is valid; the product in front of you is not the one registered.
- 02The registration has expiredEvery record has a validity date. A product sold well past it should be questioned.
- 03It is named in an FDA advisoryThe FDA regularly warns the public about unregistered products found online, including imported brands sold through big stores.
- 04Nothing comes up at allNo number on the listing and no record under the brand name. Not proof of a problem, but treat it as a strong warning sign.
Know the limits
What a registration does not tell you
- It is not proof the product works. Registration means a product may be sold. It is not an endorsement of the claims in a listing.
- It is not proof your item is genuine. A registered product can still be counterfeited or badly stored by a reseller. Buy from the brand’s official store or an authorised retailer.
- A Shopee Mall badge is not a registration check. We found a product under an FDA public health warning sold by a Mall store. Check the portal regardless of who is selling.
- The record can have errors. If something looks wrong on the portal, it links to a form for additions and corrections.
FDA verification: common questions
How do I check if a product is FDA registered in the Philippines?
Go to verification.fda.gov.ph and search the registration number or the brand name. Then check that the brand, product description, company and validity date on the record match the product you are buying.
Is “FDA registered” the same as “FDA approved”?
Not in the way most listings mean it. A registration allows a product to be sold. For food supplements, the registration itself states there are no approved therapeutic claims.
What does CPR mean?
Certificate of Product Registration. The portal groups results into tabs such as Food CPR and Drug CPR, depending on what the product was registered as.
The listing has no registration number. What should I do?
Search the exact brand and product name on the portal, and ask the seller for the number. If you still cannot find a record, we would choose a different product.
Does WellnessPicks check every product it reviews?
Yes. Every product in our guides is looked up on the portal, including its advisories, and registration makes up a quarter of the score. See how we rate.
WellnessPicks is not affiliated with FDA Philippines. Portal layout and record details described here were checked in October 2026 and may change.