Section 14August 18, 2009, Sec./Art. 14

A new Section 30 and a new headnote "Additional Powers and Functions of the Director-General" are hereby added to Republic Act No. 3720, which shall read as follows:

"SEC. 30. The Director-General shall also exercise the following powers:

"(1) To hold in direct or indirect contempt any person who disregards orders or writs he or she issues and impose the appropriate penalties following the same procedures and penalties provided in the Rules of Court;

"(2) To administer oaths and affirmations and issue subpoena duces tecum and subpoena ad testificandum requiring the production of such books, contracts, correspondence, records, statement of accounts and other documents and/or the attendance and testimony of parties and witnesses as may be material to the investigation conducted by the FDA;

"(3) To obtain information from any officer or office of the national or local governments, government agencies and its instrumentalities;

"(4) To issue orders of seizure, to seize and hold in custody any article or articles of food, device, cosmetics, household hazardous substances and health products that is adulterated, counterfeited, misbranded or unregistered, or drug, in-vitro diagnostic reagent, biologicals, and vaccine that is adulterated or misbranded, when introduced into domestic commerce pending the authorized hearing under Republic Act No. 3720, as amended, Executive Order No. 175 (1987), and Republic Act No. 7394, otherwise known as the Consumers Act of the Philippines;

"(5) To call on the assistance of any department, office or agency and deputize members of the Philippine National Police or any law enforcement agency for the effective implementation of this Act; and

"(6) To exercise such powers and functions as may be necessary for the effective implementation of this Act."