“FDA approved” is one of the most common phrases on Shopee and TikTok Shop wellness listings, and one of the least precise. Most of the time the seller means the product is registered or notified with FDA Philippines. That is useful to know. It is not the same as the FDA agreeing with what the listing says.
The short version
Three words, three different things
| Word | What it means | What it does not mean |
|---|---|---|
| Registered | The product has a Certificate of Product Registration (CPR). Supplements, foods and medicines are registered. | That every claim in the listing is approved |
| Notified | The company has notified the FDA before selling. Cosmetics, including sunscreens, are notified and carry numbers starting with NN-. | That the FDA tested the product before sale |
| “Approved” | For a medicine, its approved uses are the ones printed on its label. Food supplements are registered with no approved therapeutic claims at all. | A general seal of quality or effectiveness |
Read the number
How to tell what kind of product it is
The letters at the start of the number tell you what the product was registered or notified as, and therefore what it is allowed to claim.
| Starts with | Product type | Allowed claims |
|---|---|---|
| FR- | Food or food supplement | No therapeutic claims. Supplements are registered “with NO APPROVED THERAPEUTIC CLAIMS”. |
| DR-, DRP-, DR-XY | Drug, over-the-counter or prescription | The approved uses on its label |
| HRP-, DRHR- | Household remedy | The approved uses on its label |
| NN- | Cosmetic (notified) | Cosmetic claims only, such as cleansing, moisturising or sun protection |
Why it matters
Where “FDA approved” goes wrong
- 01A supplement claiming to treat diseaseIf the number starts with FR-, the product is registered as a food supplement. “Cures”, “treats” and “prevents” go beyond what that registration allows.
- 02A real number on the wrong productA valid number can be copied onto a different product. “FDA approved” in a listing tells you nothing until you check that the number matches the brand and company.
- 03A badge instead of a numberAn “FDA approved” sticker or graphic with no number is not evidence of anything. Ask for the number, or search the brand on the portal.
- 04A cosmetic making drug claimsNotified cosmetics are cosmetics. Whitening creams promising to treat skin conditions are a common example of claims a cosmetic cannot make.
Do this
How to check in two minutes
Search the number or brand on the FDA verification portal at verification.fda.gov.ph, then match the brand, product description, company and validity date. Our step-by-step FDA check guide walks you through it with a real example.
Registered vs. approved: common questions
Is "FDA registered" the same as "FDA approved"?
Not in the way most listings use it. Registration allows a product to be sold. A medicine’s approved uses are those on its label; a food supplement has no approved therapeutic claims.
Are cosmetics registered with FDA Philippines?
Cosmetics are notified rather than registered. Their numbers start with NN-, and the portal lists a notification validity date.
Does registration mean the FDA tested the product?
Registration and notification mean the product is on record and allowed to be sold. They are not a guarantee about the specific item a reseller ships you.
What should I do if a listing says "FDA approved" with no number?
Ask the seller for the registration or notification number, or search the brand name on the FDA portal. If nothing matches, choose another product.
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