G/TBT/N/PHL/183  
 
5 August 2014  
(14-4548)  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 Administrati on, Department of Health 
Name and address (including telephon e 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 
Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health 
Civic Drive, Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang Muntinlupa City Philippines 
Tel.: (632) 857-1993 or 91 
Fax: (632) 807-0751 Emails: mtccerbolles@fda.gov.ph ./ fjsibarreta@fda.gov.ph  
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 applic able, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): This Order covers the 
labeling of all prepackaged food products, including food supplements, whether locally 
manufactured or imported into the Philippines. 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Draft 
Administrative Order - 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 Pre-packaged Food Products Distributed in the Philippines, and for Other Purposes 
6. Description of content: With the aim to provide coherence in the Food and Drug 
Administration's regulatory system for f ood establishments and prepackaged food 
products, this Order is hereby issued amendi ng for this purpose certain provisions of 
Administrative Order No. 88-B s. 1984 or the "Rules and Regulations Governing the Labeling of Prepackaged Food Products Dist ributed in the Philippines" and for other 
purposes.  G/TBT/N/PHL/183 
 
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  7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable: 
With the increasing trade of prepackaged food in the country, its safety must at all times be assured. One effective national food safety and control system is consumer information 
about the food product through its label. The following are the objectives of this order:  
 To promulgate rules and regulations on the revised labelling guidelines of 
prepackaged food products in order to protect the consumer against hazards to
 
health and safety and provide information and education to facilitate sound choice in the proper exercise of their rights; 
 To establish provisions on the exemption to the requirements of labelling of 
prepackaged food products which are, in a ccordance with the practice of trade, to
 
be processed, labelled, or repacked in substantial quantities at establishments 
other than those where originally processed or packed. 
8. Relevant documents:  
 Administrative Order No. 88-B s. 1984 or the "Rules and Regulations Governing 
the Labeling of Prepackaged Food Products Distributed in the Philippines"; 
 Republic Act No. 3720 or Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; 
 Republic Act No. 9711 or Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009; 
 Administrative Order No.2005-0016 - General Policies and Guidelines Governing 
Brand Names of Products for Registration with the Bureau of Food and Drug; 
 Administrative Order No. 152 s. 2004 Prescribing Regulations for Irradiated Food; 
 Bureau Circular 2007-002 - Use of Nutrition and Health Claims in Food; 
 Bureau Circular No. 2006-016 - Updated List of Food Additives; 
 CODEX STAN 1-1985, Amended 2010 - General Standard for the Labelling of 
Prepackaged Foods; 
 CAC/GL 23-1997 - Codex Guidelines for Use of Nutrition and Health Claims; 
 CAC/GL 1-1979 revised in 1991 - Codex General Guidelines on Claims; 
 CODEX STAN 107-1981 - General Standard for the Labeling of Food Additives 
when Sold As Such; 
 CAC/GL 1-1979, Amended 2009 - Codex General Guidelines on Claims; 
 Codex GSFA 2013 - Codex General Standard for Food Additives. 
9. Proposed date of adoption:   This regulation shall take e ffect immediately upon approval 
and publication in two Newspapers of general circulation 
Proposed date of entry into force:   This regulation shall take effect immediately upon 
approval and publication in two Newspapers of general circulation 
10. Final date for comments: 30 August 2014 
11. Texts available from: Nati onal enquiry point [X] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available, of other body:  
Standards Mainstreaming Division 
Bureau of Philippine Standards 
Department of Tr ade and Industrys 
361 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue Makati City, Metro Manila 
Philippines 
E-mail: bps@dti.gov.ph  
Fax: (632) 751-4706