The Department of Health (DOH) has announced that the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) new schedule of service fees and charges will remain suspended for another 60 working days. In a circular issued on September 5, 2025, the DOH said the extension of the suspension will give the FDA more time to conduct consultations, review the fee structure, and make the necessary adjustments before implementing Administrative Order (AO) No. 2024-0016, also known as the “Implementing Guidelines on the New Schedule of Fees and Charges of the Food and Drug Administration.”
This latest order, known as Department Circular (DC) No. 2025-0382, follows an earlier directive issued on June 10, 2025, which first placed a temporary hold on the new schedule of fees for 60 working days. The DOH explained that the additional extension is intended to address concerns raised by various stakeholders and to ensure that once the new rates are rolled out, the FDA will be able to implement them effectively and without disruption.
AO 2024-0016 was first released in December 2024 to update the FDA’s service fees, which have remained unchanged for over two decades since the issuance of AO No. 50 in 2001. The DOH has explained that the increases are needed to keep pace with advances in technology, the country’s growing economy, and the demands of the expanding health product industry. According to the order, the updated schedule of fees and charges will apply to FDA authorizations, accreditations, services, and other related transactions once fully implemented.