Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

CONAWAY No

HOUSE BILL NO.2860

10
11 Introduced by Honorable Anthony M. Bravo and Honorable
12 Cresente C. Paez

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Studies by the United States Center for Disease Control show that most people carry
in their bodies concentrations of a family of synthetic chemicals known as phthalates
Phthalates, or phthalate esters, are a group of chemical compounds that are mainly used as
plasticizers or substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility. They are chiefly used
to turn polyvinyl chloride from a hard plastic into a flexible plastic

Phthalates are commonly found in plastics, pesticides, and personal care products like
shampoos, soaps, and makeup. Exposure to phthalates has been linked to malformed sex
organs in male lab animals, Alarmingly enough, a recent study revealed that there is a link
between mothers exposed to phthalates and genital birth defects in male infants

As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Thus, this bill
seeks to avoid the hazardous effects of phthalates on children by prohibiting the sale of toys

and other articles intended for children three (3) years of age and below.

HON. ih M. BRAVO. HON. capes EC. PAEZ


1 Republic of the Philippines
2

3 House of Representatives

4 Quezon City

5

6 SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

g First Regular Session

8

9 HOUSE BILL NO. 286

10

11 Introduced by Honorable Anthony M. Bravo and Honorable
12 Cresente C. Paez

13

14 AN ACT

15 PROHIBITING THE SALE OF TOYS AND OTHER ARTICLES CONTAIN

16 PHTHALATES TO CHILDREN THREE YEARS OF AGE AND BELOW

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

|ON 1, Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Phthalate-Free Toy Act.”

18 SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ Itis a policy of the State to protect the physical,
19moral and social well-being of children, Towards this end, the State shall prohibit the sale of

20toys containing phthalates to children three (3) years of age or below.

21 SECTION 3. Definition of Phthalates. — For the purposes of this Act, the term
22phthalates” means dialkyl or alkyl aryl esters of 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid including, but
23not limited to, dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, dially! phthalate, di-n-propyl phthalate,
24di-nbutyl phthalate, diisobutyl phthalate, butyl cyclohexyl phthalate, di-n-pentyl phthalate,
25dicyclohexyl phthalate, butyl benzyl phthalate, di-n-hexyl phthalate, diisohexyl phthalate,
26diisoheptyl phthalate, butyl decyl phthalate, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, di(n-octyl) phthalate,
27diisooctyl phthalate, n-octyl n-decyl phthalate, diisononyl phthalate, diisodecy! phthalate,

28diundecyl phthalate, diisoundecyl phthalate, ditridecyl phthalate, and diisotridecyl phthalate

29 SECTION 4. Prohibition on the Sale of Toys Containing Phthalates; Penalties. - On

30or after one hundred and twenty (120) days from the passage of this Act, no toy or article


intended for use by children three (3) years of age or younger if it contains any measurable
2amount of phthalates

3 Any person found in violation of this Act shall be punished by a penalty of prision
4correctional, or a fine ranging from Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) to Fifty Thousand
‘Pesos (P50,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court, taking into consideration the
6circumstances of the case

7 If the offender is a corporation, trust or firm, partnership, association or any other
Sentity, the penalty of imprisonment shall be imposed on the entity's responsible officers,
9including, but not limited to, the president, vice-president, chief executive officer, general

10manager, managing director or partner directly responsible therefor.

u SECTION 5. Separability Clause. — If any part hereof, is held invalid or
12unconstitutional, the remainder of the provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid and

L3subsisting,

4 SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. ~ Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
ISorder, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent

16with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly

17 SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause, ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

18publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,