SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No.155 
Introduced by SENATOR PIA S. CAYETANO' 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
'13 
JUL -1 
P 3 :26 
Biotechnology is now recognized as having great potentials for the 
promotion of human well-being, particularly in meeting critical needs for food, 
agriculture and health care. However, these products of modern biotechnology 
cannot be enjoyed fully by Filipinos unless certainties regarding their risk to 
human health and environment are eliminated. As of this recent time, the non-
hazardous nature of GMOs has yet to be established thus consumers must be 
given the inform.ed choice on whether or not the product they are buying 
contained or were derived from GMOs. This can only be achieved by;requiring 
these products to be properly labeled as such. 
For this reason, approval of this Bill is urgently sought. 


-,,-
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
S'l'Intt 
'. ,,! 1~,,~.v.<lI 
"13 
JUl -1 
P 3 :27 
SENATE 
~ 
_____________________________________________ ~~-~:~-~-~-~-----------------------~:----~:~:~~-~-~---~: Y: 0--
Introduced by SENATOR PIA S, CAYETANO _ 
AN ACT 
PRESCRIBING THE 
PROPER LABELING OF 
PLANTS, FOOD AND 
PRODUCTS CONTAINING GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISM AND/OR 
ARE 
RESULT 
OF 
BIOTECHNOLOGY, PROVIDING PENALTIES: FOR 
VIOLATION THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled,' 
SECTION 1, Title,-
This Act shall be known as the "GENETICALLY 
MODIFIED ORGANISM AND BIOTECHNOLOGY LABELLING ACT of 201,3," 
SECTION 2. Definition of Terms, -
a. "GMO" shall mean any biological entity that possesses a, novel 
combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern 
biotechnology, 
b, "BIOTECHNOLOGY" shall mean (i) recombinant nucleic acid techniques 
involving the formation of new combinations of genetic material by the 
insertion of nucleic acid molecules produced by whatever means outside 
an organism, into any virus, bacteria, plasmid or other vector system and 
their incorporation into a host organism in which they do not naturally 
occur but in which they are capable of continued propagation; (ii) 
techniques involving the liIirect introduction into an organism of heritable 
material prepared outSide the organism including micro-injection, macro-
injection and micro-encapsulation; and (iii) cell fusion, including protoplast 
fusion, or hybridization techniques where live cells with new combinati~ns 
of heritable genetic material are formed through the fusion of two or m9re 
cells by means of methods that do not occur naturally, 


, 
c. "PLANT" shall mean any living stage or form of any member of the plant 
kingdom and parts thereof, including seeds, rhizomes, bulbs and corms, 
grafts, leaves, roots, scions and others that may be used for propagation. 
d. "FOOD" shall mean any substance taken from an organism which is 
intended as a source of nutrition and supplement of humans. 
e. "PRODUCTS" shall mean any other substance taken from an organism 
which is not characterized as Food. 
Section 3, Labeling of Plants, Food and Products, - All Plants, Food, and 
Products must be labeled as such which must contain, among others, a 
statement on the following: 
a, That the Plants, Food or Products contain or are derived from a GMO; 
b. The Biotechnology used to genetically modify the organism; 
c. That the Plant, Food or Product has undergone risk assessment and the: 
results thereof; 
d, That the Plant, Food or Product had been authorized for distribution by 
the Department of Agriculture (DA) or Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD). 
, 
Section 4, Duty of NeBP. - The National Committee on Biosafety of the 
Philippines (NCBP) shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and' 
regulation for the complete and proper implementation of this Act. 
Section 5, Duty of the DA, DENR and BFAD. - The DA, Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and BFAD shall prepare a 
complete list of Plants, Food and Products containing GMOs authorized to be 
distributed in the country. 
Section 6, Penalty for Violation. - Any person who knowingly distribute 
Plants, Food or Products contai~ing or derived from GMOs without the proper 
label shall suffer imprisonment of one (1) month and one (1) day to six (6) 
months imprisonment and/or a fine in the amount of Fifty Thousand Pesos 
(P50,OOO.OO) to One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Pi00,OOO.OO), at the di:;;cretion 
ofthe cou rt, 


· ' 
Section. 7. Separability Clause.- If any part. section. or provision of this' 
Act shall be held invalid or unconstitutional. the other provisions shall not be 
affected thereby. 
Section. 
8. 
Repealing Clause.-
The Revised Penal Code and all 
other acts, laws, executive orders,presidential issuances, rules and regulations 
or any part thereof which are inconsistent herewith are hereby deemed repealed 
or modified accordingly. 
Section. 9. 
Effectivity. -The provisions of this Act shall take effect six 
months from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national 
newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved.