THE Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) — an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA) — has filed a criminal complaint against the owner of DQB Green Agricultural Products Trading for allegedly manufacturing regulated fertilizer products without a license.

The lawsuit, filed before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor, stemmed from an inspection of DQB’s facility in Barangay Saguing, Makilala, North Cotabato, where authorities allegedly found unauthorized fertilizer production.

The FPA said DQB is licensed only as a national distributor, allowing it to sell registered fertilizer products to dealers, distributors and retailers. Its license does not cover manufacturing, formulation, processing, bulk blending or repacking — which require separate permits.

The FPA’s Regional Field Unit XII, accompanied by local agriculture and barangay officials, inspected the facility on Feb. 20 and found production equipment, packaging materials and fertilizer bags labeled “TAKADA 14-14-14,” a product registered to another company, Valap Inc.

Authorities also allegedly found that the facility used the “Spinning Palanggana” method, a manual fertilizer mixing process prohibited by the FPA for failing to meet manufacturing and quality-control standards.

The inspection followed information from the FPA Regional Field Unit XIII about fertilizer products that failed laboratory tests during a government procurement, prompting regulators to check the reported production site.

The FPA subsequently issued a show-cause order directing DQB owner Quiara Fabian Baterina to explain the alleged violations.

The agency said Baterina expressed willingness to cooperate, but her explanation failed to address allegations of unauthorized manufacturing, production of a fertilizer product registered to another company and use of a prohibited mixing method.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said unauthorized fertilizer production could expose farmers to substandard products that may hurt crop yields and incomes and pose risks to public health and the environment.

“We will continue pursuing violators to protect our farmers and the integrity of the country’s food production system,” Tiu Laurel said.

The complaint, filed by FPA Executive Director Glenn Estrada, cites alleged violations of Presidential Decree 1144, which governs the manufacture and distribution of fertilizers and provides penalties for violations of FPA rules.

The FPA also placed DQB’s licenses and product registrations under preventive suspension while administrative proceedings are ongoing.