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The freedom to choose and exercise one's religon is a fundamental right recognized 
by the State and guaranteed by our Constitution. While the majoky of the Filipinos are 
Christians, we cannot discount the fact that many Filipinos have embraced Islam as their 
reIigion. 
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In keeping with the spirit of respect and recognition for our Muslim brothers and 
sisters, this representation has introduced this legislation, which seeks to institute a Hal& 
system for certification and accreditation for food, non-food md services consumed and 
patronized by the Muslim community. 
By doing so, we not only show our genuine concern for the safety and welfare of 
Muslim populace but also our sensitivity as a nation to the desire to unite dl Filipinos. 
I therefore appeal for the immediate mactment of this measure. 
ER 
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Introduced by: ~
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ANACF 
LISHPJG THE GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR THE PHILIPPINE ICIIALAL 
SYSTEM, CREATING FOR THE PUWOS 
TpiE PHILIPPINE HALAL 
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND CONVERTING 
§ANBE INTO A BOARD 
AFTER THE TRANSITION PERIOD, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House OfRepresentatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled 
Section 1. Title. .- This Act shall be known as the ‘“ala1 Act of 2019.” + 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and 
promote the right of the people to health and to the fi.ee exercise of religion. Towards this 
end, the State shall ensure that the religious practices of the Islamic community are 
respected, safeguarded and promoted by institutionalizing a Halal certification and 
accreditation system for food, non-food and service products consumed and patronized by 
Muslims. 
It shall also be the purpose of this Act to institute the Halal system in order to 
promote Philippine Halal products and services for export. 
Section 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act: 
a 
Shariah Law - means the Islamic Law based on the Al-Q~uw Al-Hadith 
(Traditions of the Messenger of Allah), Ijma (Consensus of Islamic Scholars) and Qiyas 
(Legai Deduction or Analogy) according to the Shafei or any one of the Hanafi, Maliki or 
Hanbali Schools of Thought which have been practiced by countries where these guidelines 
have been implemented. 
Hald - means ‘‘lawful,” as pertaining to food or products permitted for 
b. 
human consumption under Shariah Law. 
c. 
Carrion - as defined by Shariah Law, means the flesh of swine and dogs; 
flesh of dead animals that have been sacrificed to idols; flowing blood; flesh partly 
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consumed by beasts and buds of prey; and dead or decaying flesh of animals felled by 
strangulation, beating or goring. 
d. 
Najis - as defined by Shariah Law, means things that are themselves filthy 
and cannot be cleaned like: pork, blood and carrion, as well as lawful food that has been 
contaminated or has come in contact with filth. 
Section 4. General Guidelines. - There shall be established for the food, beverage, 
cosmetics, garments and textile, and other concerned industries the following general 
guidelines on the preparation, handling, storage and verification of Halal products to serve 
as basic requirements for certification as well as the accreditation of Halal abattoirs, outlets 
and other service establishments: 
a 
The food or product, or their ingredients, does not contain any components 
of animals and carrion that are prohibited under Shariah Law, or animals that are not 
slaughtered according to Shariah Law. 
b. 
The food or product does not contain ingredients that are considered Najis by 
Shariah Law. 
c. 
The food or product is not prepared, processed or manufactured using 
equipment that has been contaminated with Najis. 
During its preparation, processing, storage or transportation, the food or 
product is Mly separated from, and does not come in contact with, any other food or 
product that has been decreed Najis by Shariah Law or does not meet the requirements 
stated in items (a), (b) or (c) above. 
Service establishments such as, but not limited to, hotels, restaurants, resorts 
and similar service facilities purposely established for and catering to Muslim patrons and 
abattoirs, factories, and similar establishments purposely producing Halal goods shall 
conform to the national standards on Halal certification and accreditation. 
Labels of products that are certified Halal shall contain the word “Halal” 
or 
its equivalent term and should not be used in ways which codd give rise to doubt about the 
safety of similar food or claims that halal foods are nutritionally superior to, or healthier 
than, other foods. 
These guidelines shall be used together with the country’s existins provisions of law 
on the preparation, processing, manufacturing of food and non-food and other products in 
accordance with health, hygiene and sanitation standards and good manufmring prmtices. 
Section 5. Philippine Halal Executive Council. - A Philippine Halal Executive 
Council, hereinafter referred to as the Council, is hereby created and shall exist for a 
d. 
e. 
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transitory period of five (5) years pending its transformation into the Philippine Halal 
Certification and Accreditation Board established under Section 8 hereof. 
The Council shall be chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Trade and 
Industry (DTI) and co-chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture @A). The 
Executive Director of the Office on Muslim AfFairs shall be the Vice-chairman and the 
Chief Operating Qfficer. The Council shall have as members the following representatives: 
a. 
Two (2) representatives from the DTI composed of one (1) representative 
each from the Bureau of Export Trade and Promotion (BETP) and the Bureau of Product 
Standards (BPS) of the DTI; 
b. 
Two (2) representatives from the Department of Agriculture composed of 
one (1) representative each &om Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards 
(BAFPS) and the National Meat Inspection Commission (NMIC) of the DA; 
c, One (1) representative from the Department of Health - Bureau of Food and 
Drugs (BFAD) 
d. One (1) representative from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) 
e. One (1) representative from the National Food Authority - Food Development 
Center (NFA-FDC) 
f. One (1) representative from the OEcice of Muslim Affairs (OMA) - Bureau of 
External Relations 
g. One (1) representative from the Islamic Da’wah Council of the Philippines 
h. One (1) representative from the Ulama Council of the Philippines 
i. Two (2) representatives from the private sector to be nominated by the 
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Philippine Exporter’s Confederation, Inc. 
Section 6. Function of the Council. - The Council shall establish the certification 
scheme for Halal food and non-food products and services and the accreditation system for 
establishments engaged in the manufacture, distribution and provision of the same and shall 
oversee the initial implementation of both programs. For this purpose, the Council shall 
issue Halal certification and/or accreditation which shall be valid for a period of one (1) 
year and renewable every year thereafter. 
The Council shall promulgate such rules and regulations necessary for the effective 
implementation of this Act. 
Section 7. Hal& Certification and Accreditation. - The system guidelines 
established by the Council shall be called the Philippine Halal Certification and 
Accreditation Standards, hereinafter referred to as the Standards. 
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The Standards shall provide the specific guidelines for a comprehensive and 
integrated PWippine Halal certification and accreditation system that will govern the 
extraction, preparation, processing, manufacture and production, packaging, labeling, 
transportation, storage, marketing and distribution of Halal foods and products as well as the 
accreditation of Halal abattoirs, outlets, hotels, restaurants and concerned service 
establishments. 
The Standards shall conform to existing international standards and guidelines on 
Halal. 
The Council shall submit a find copy of the Standards to the President and to 
Congress within one (1) year from its creation. 
Section 8. Transition Period. - The Council shall be deemed abolished five (5) 
yeyears fiom its creation and shall be replaced by the Philippine Walal Certification and 
Accreditation Board, hereinafter referred to as the Board, which shall undertake the 
functions of the Council and continue to oversee the implementation of the Standards and 
this Act. The Board shall be an independent autonomous body, attached to the Office of the 
President, and shall be subject to existing laws, rules and regulations. 
Section 9. Composition of the Board. - The Board shall be headed by a Chairman 
and assisted by two (2) Vice-Chairmen, all appointed by the President. The representatives 
from agencies in the d e b c t  Council shall automatically constitute the Technical Advisory 
Committee of the Board. 
The Chairman shall be the Chief Executive Officer. 
Section 10. Board Secretariat. - The Board shall have a Secretariat, herein created, 
headed by an Executive Director who shall assist the Chairman in the day-to-day 
operations. 
Section 11. Congressional Oversight Cormmitte . - Three (3) years from the 
egectivity of this Act, a Congressional Oversight Committee composed of Senate 
Committees on Trade and Commerce and Cultural Communities, and the House of 
Representatives’ Comniittees on Trade and Industry and Mislim Affairs, “shall tie 
constituted for the purpose of evaluating the implementation of the Philippine Halal 
certification and accreditation system under the supervision of the Council and if warranted, 
recommend the appropriate legislative measures to support, complement, supplement or 
amend this Act. 
Section 12. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the effective 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current appropriations of the D?r, 
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and where covered by specific provisions of this Act, the Departments of Agriculture, 
Health, Science and Technology, the Office of Muslim affairs .and other appropriate 
agencies, Thereafter, and after the creation of the Board, such funds as may be necessary 
for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations 
Act. 
Section 13. 
Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act be 
subsequently declared unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in 
full force and effect. 
Section 14. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or 
any part thereof, which are inconsistent herewith, are hereby repealed or amended 
accordingly. 
Section 15. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the 
Philippines. 
Approved, 
x 
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