FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES. )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

1402

House Bill No.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 15 provides:

“The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the
people and instill health consciousness among them.”

Republic Act No. 7394, otherwise known as the “Consumer Act of the
Philippines," was enacted to protect the interests of the consumer, promote
his general welfare, and to establish standards of conduct for business and
industry. Article 77 of this Act provides for the minimum labeling requirements
for consumer products.

Genetically engineering food is a new way of producing foods -- by
taking DNA from one species and inserting it into another. Given the huge
complexity of the genetic code, no one can possibly predict the effects of
adding new genes into any organism or plant. It has been reported that one
genetically engineered food supplement (tryptophan) has killed 37 North
Americans and permanently disabled 1500. Many scientists feel that these
foods have not been properly tested and pose serious health risks.

Consumers have a right to know whether the food they purchase
contains or was produced with genetically engineered material. Thus, the bill
‘seeks to require the labeling of food, meat, and Poultry products that contains
genetically engineered material

In view of the foregoing, immediate enactment of this proposed
measure is earnestly recommended.
S

RUFUS B. Ri IGUEZ

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

1402

House Bill No."

AN ACT
TO REQUIRE THE FOOD, MEAT AND POULTRY PRODUCTS THAT
CONTAIN A GENETICALLY ENGINEERED MATERIAL, BE LABELED
ACCORDINGLY

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. -- This Act shall be known as the
"Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall enforce compulsory
labeling and fair packaging to enable the consumer to obtain accurate
information as to the nature, quality, and quantity of the contents of consumer
products and to facilitate his comparison of the value of such products.

SEC 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act:

(@) "Genetically Engineered Material’ means material derived from any
part of a genetically engineered organism, without regard to whether
the altered molecular or cellular characteristics of the organism are
detectable in the material;

(b) "Genetically Engineered Organism" means-

(1) an organism that has been altered at the molecular or
cellular level by means that are not possible under natural conditions or
Processes (including but not limited to recombinant DNA and RNA
techniques cell fusion, microencapsulation, macroencapsulation, gene
deletion and doubling, introducing a foreign gene, and changing the
Positions of genes), other than a means consisting exclusively of
breeding, conjugation, fermentation, hybridization, in vitro fertilization,
or tissue culture, and

(2) an organism made through sexual or asexual reproduction
(er both) involving an organism described in sub-clause (1), if


possessing any of the altered molecular or cellular characteristics of
the organism so described.

(c) "Meat Food" means a carcass, part of a carcass, meat, or meat
food product that is derived from cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules,
or other equines and is capable of use as human food.

SEC. 4. Labeling of Genetically Engineered Material. -

(a) In General - This labeling requirement shall apply to food, poultry, and
meat products.

(b) All products enumerated in the preceding paragraph, domestically sold,
whether manufactured locally or imported, if it contains a genetically
engineered material, or was produced with a genetically engineered material,
shall provide notices in accordance with the following

(1) A notice as follows: "GENETICALLY ENGINEERED.”

(2) A_ notice as follows: "THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS A
GENETICALLY ENGINEERED MATERIAL, OR WAS PRODUCED
WITH A GENETICALLY ENGINEERED MATERIAL.”

(3) The notice required in clause (1) immediately precedes the notice
required in clause (2) and is not less than twice the size of the notice required
in clause (2).

SEC. 5. Genetically Engineered Food -

(a) In General -- A food shall be considered to have been produced with a
genetically engineered material if -

(1) the organism from which the food is derived has been injected (use
of manure as a fertilizer for raw agricultural commodities may not be
construed to mean that such commodities are produced with a
genetically engineered material); or

(2) the animal from which the food is derived has been fed genetically
engineered material, or

(3) the food contains an ingredient that is a food to which clause (A) or
(B) applies.

(b) Exceptions ~ This paragraph does not apply to food that—

(1) is served in restaurants or other establishments in which food is
‘served for immediate human consumption;

(2) is processed and prepared primarily in a retail establishment, is
ready for human consumption, which is of the type described in clause (A),


and is offered for sale to consumers but not for immediate human
consumption in such establishment and is not offered for sale outside such
establishment, or

(3) is a medical food.

SEC. 6. Genetically Engineered Meat.--

(a) In General -- A meat food shall be considered to have been produced with
a genetically engineered material if-

(1) the organism from which the food is derived has been injected or
otherwise treated with a genetically engineered material;

(2) the animal from which the food is derived has been fed genetically
engineered material; or

(8) the food contains an ingredient that is a food to which subparagraph
(a) or (b) applies.

(b) Exceptions - This paragraph does not apply to any meat food that-

(1) is served in restaurants or other establishments in which food is
served for immediate human consumption; or

(2) is processed and prepared primarily in a retail establishment, is
ready for human consumption, is offered for sale to consumers but not
for immediate human consumption in such establishment, and is not
offered for sale outside such establishment.

SEC 7. Genetically Engineered Poultry Product.

(a) In General -- A poultry product shall be considered to have been produced
with a genetically engineered material if —

(1) the poultry from which the food is derived has been injected or
otherwise treated with a genetically engineered material;

(2) the poultry from which the food is derived has been fed genetically
engineered material; or

(3) the food contains an ingredient that is a food to which subparagraph
(a) or (b) applies.

(b) Exceptions -- This paragraph does not apply to any poultry product that-

(1) is served in restaurants or other establishments in which food is
served for immediate human consumption; or


(2) is processed and prepared primarily in a retail establishment, is
ready for human consumption, is offered for sale to consumers but not
for immediate human consumption in such establishment, and is not
offered for sale outside such establishment.

SEC 8. Implementing Agencies. - The provisions of this Act and its
implementing rules and regulations shall be enforced by:

(a) the Department of Health with respect to food; and

(0) the Department of Agriculture with respect to products related to
agriculture.

SEC 9. Penalties. -- Any person who shall violate the provisions of this
Act shall be subject to a fine of not less than Twenty Thousand Pesos
(P20,000.00) but not more than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00)
or imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more than (2) two
years or both, at the discretion of the court

SEC 10. 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.

SEC 11. Repealing Clause.- Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation
contrary to or inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed,
modified, or amended accordingly.

SEC 12. Effectivity Clause.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.