G/TBT/N/PHL/208  
 
29 October 2018  
(18-6772) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member: PHILIPPINES   
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible: Food and Drug Administration - Center for Food Regulation and 
Research (CFRR)  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
Center for Food Regulation and Research (CFRR)  
Food and Drug Administration  
Civic Drive, Filinvest City, Alabang 1781  
Muntinlupa, Philipppines  
E-mail: mavspinion@yahoo.com , mvdpinion@fda.gov.ph , ryasonafda@gmail.com  
Link: https://ww2.fda.gov.ph/index.php/drafts -for-comments/525737 -addendum -to-
administrative -order -no-2014-0030 
Telephone no.: (+632)857.1900 loc 8112  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [ X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): Swee tened 
Beverages  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Draft 
Administrative Order No. ___ - Addendum to Administrative Order No. 2014 -0030 
“Revised Rules and Regulations Governing the Labeling of Prepackaged Food Products 
Further Amending Certain Provisions of Administrative Order No. 88 -B s. 1984 or the 
“Rules and Regulations Governing the Labeling of Prepackaged Food Products Distributed 
in the Philippines,” to include Guidelines on Additional Mandatory Label Information on 
Sweetened Beverages Based on R.A. 10963 (4 page(s), in English)    
6. Description of content: This draft AO sets the guidelines on the declaration of additional 
mandatory label information on the type of sweetener used and the equivalent serving 
size of  sweetened beverages (SB) in powder from per liter of volume capacity to guide 
the food manufacturers, distributors, and traders.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable: Consumer information, labelling; Cost s aving and productivity enhancement; 
In 1 January 2018, Republic Act (RA) 10963 otherwise known as “Tax Reform for 
Acceleration and Inclusion” (TRAIN) Law was enacted to (a) enhance the progressivity of 
the tax system through rationalization of the Philippi ne internal revenue tax system, 
therby promoting sustainable and inclusive economic growth; (b) provide as much as 
possible, an equitable relief to a greater number of taxpayers and their families in order 
to improve levels of disposable income and increas e economic growth; and (c) ensure 
that the government is able to provide for the needs of those under its jurisdiction and G/TBT/N/PHL/208  
 
- 2 - 
 
  care through the provision of better infrastructure, health, education, jobs, and social 
protection for the people.  
The Act covers sw eetened beverages (SB) using purely caloric sweeteners, and purely 
non-caloric sweeteners, and/or a mix of caloric and non -caloric sweeteners, and high 
fructose corn syrup or in combination with any caloric or non -caloric sweeteners, which 
are subject to e xcise tax, except purely coconut sap sugar and purely steviol glycosides.  
Under Section 47 of the TRAIN Law (E) amending Section 150 -B of the National Internal 
Revenue Code (NIRC), it was provided that starting 1 June 2018, the FDA shall require 
all manufa cturers and importers of SB covered by this Act to indicate on the label the 
type of sweetener used, and on sweetened beverages in powder form to indicate on the 
label the equivalent of each serving per liter of volume capacity.  
8. Relevant documents:   
• Republic Act (RA) No. 10963  
• Administrative Order (AO) No. 2014 -0030 
• AO No. 88 -B s. 1984  
9. Proposed date of adoption: This Order shall take effect 15 days after its publication in 
a national newspaper of general circulation.  
Proposed date of entry into fo rce: This Order shall take effect 15 days after its 
publication in a national newspaper of general circulation.  
10. Final date for comments: 30 days from notification  
11. Texts available from: National enquiry point [X] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available, of other body:   
Center for Food Regulation and Research (CFRR)  
Food and Drug Administration  
Civic Drive, Filinvest City, Alabang 1781  
Muntinlupa, Philipppines  
E-mail: mavspinion@yahoo.com , mvdpinion@fda.gov.ph , ryasonafda@gmail.com  
Telephone no.: (+632)857.1900 loc 8112  
Attached copy: Draft A dministrative Order No. ___ - Addendum to Administrative Order 
No. 2014 -0030 "Revised Rules and Regulations Governing the Labeling of Prepackaged 
Food Products Further Amending Certain Provisions of Administrative Order No. 88 -B s. 
1984 or the “Rules and R egulations Governing the Labeling of Prepackaged  
Food Products Distributed in the Philippines," to include Guidelines on Additional 
Mandatory Label Information on Sweetened Beverages Based on R.A. 10963  
https://ww2.fda.gov.ph/index.php/drafts -for-comments/525737 -addendum -to-
administrative -order -no-2014-0030 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2018/TBT/PHL/18_5659_00_e.pdf