SENATE
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) OPFICE OF THE SEGRE TARY
)

OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session ) .
iO aR 21 PSB
SENATE,
s.No._ 1834 . ,
RECEIVED & £
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 7
EXPLANATORY NOTE

“The date of packaging of fresh or processed meat, seafood and poultry is very important
to consumers because such information give them an idea of whether or not the food they seek to
buy is still fit for human consumption. Sadly, however, retail food stores almost or never give
this information to the buying public. Even more deserving of condemnation is the act of some
retail food stores of employing deceptive practices in an attempt to mislead consumers into
believing that the meat, seafood or poultry they are buying is fresh or properly processed.

This bill seeks to protect the people from sicknesses as a result of consuming fresh or

processed meat, seafood or poultry ~ from retail food stores.’

.MIRIAM aes, ek: shi «ti

ant

| phis bill was originally filed in the Thirteenth Congress, Thitd Regular Session.

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SENATE

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) OFFICE OF SHE SE
OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session )
10 aL 21 PS 45
SENATE,
s8.No._ 1834 -

RECEIVED BY:
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago

AN ACT
REQUIRING RETAIL FOOD STORES TO POST CONSPICUOUSLY NOTICES OF
PACKAGING DATES FOR FRESH OR PROCESSED MEAT, SEAFOOD AND
POULTRY

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title, - This Act shall be known as “Retail Food Store Notice of Date
of Packaging Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote the general
welfare of the people, Pursuant to this policy, this Act seeks to protect people from sicknesses as
a result of consuming fresh or processed meat, seafood or poultry purchased from retail food
stores.

SECTION 3. Definition of Retail Food Store. - As used in this Act, the term “retail food
store” means any store selling food at retail, which store is not primarily engaged in the sale of
food for consumption on the premises."

SECTION 4. Posting of Notice of Packaging Date for Meats, Poultry and Seafood. -

|All retail food store which offers for sale fresh or processed meats, poultry or seafood
shall conspicuously post a sign situated so as to be clearly visible to any consumer inspecting
such product. The sign shall read:

“Notice: You have the right to know where and when fresh or processed meats,

poultry or seafood offered for sale were cut and packaged. In addition, you have

the right to know what store practices are in relation to the date marked on such

products. If you have any questions regarding the packaging of these products,

please see the store management or personnel for assistance.”


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Such sign shall be printed with lettering that is legible and shall be three-fourths (3/4) of
an inch boldface type.

SECTION 5. Penalties. - A violation of any of the provisions of this Act shall be
punishable by a fine not exceeding Five Thousand Pesos (P 5,000.00). Failure to comply with the
provisions of the Act for the second time shall be punishable by @ fine not exceeding Ten
‘Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00). Thereafter, succeeding violations shall be punishable by a fine not
exceeding Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00) in addition to a fine of One Thousand Pesos
(P1,000.00) for every day that the retail food store fails to comply with the provisions of this Act.

‘Any posting or relaying of false packaging information by any retail food store or by
anyone acting in its behalf shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding Fifty Thousand Pesos
(P50,000.00). If the retail food store is owned or operated by a corporation, partnership, sole
proprietor, limited partnership or association, the entity’s responsible officers, including, but not
limited to, the president, vice-president, chief executive officer, general manager, managing
director or officer directly responsible therefore shall be solidarily liable with the retail food store
if any of them are found to have knowingly consented to such posting or relaying of false
packaging information.

SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision, or part hereof, is held invalid or
‘unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain
valid and subsisting.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent
with the provisions of this act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

‘ptnvotjuly2010