SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
OCT -3 P5 :20 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 13, Section 11 states: 
The State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health 
development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other 
social services available to all the people at affordable cost. There shall be priority 
for the needs of the under-privileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women, and 
children. The State shall endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers. 
Lead is a neurotoxin that is particularly hazardous to young children, causmg 
permanent neurological damage. Exposures to even very low levels of lead can cause brain 
function impairment. No level oflead exposure has been found to be safe for a developing child. 
The high levels of lead result from a number of factors, including lead in soil in which 
irgredients are grown as well as other lead contamination during the. transport, grinding and 
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candy-making process. This bill will ensure that lead levels are monitored so that our children 
will not be exposed to this hazardous toxin: 
• This bill was originally filed in the 14'h Congress. 


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1 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
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(etfl:r of tll~ >~ffil"br~ 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
OCT -3 P5 :20 
SEN~m.. 
S.No. 1'7'78 
, 
IU~CEIVEI> BY; -~-r-
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO KEEP LEAD WITHIN MAXIMUM ALLOW ABLE LEVELS IN CANDY 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Maximum Allowable Lead Level. - For the purposes of this Act, the 
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"Maximum Allowable Lead Level" shall mean one-tenth part oflead per million parts. 
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SECTION 2. Lead in Candy. -
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) shall 
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monitor all candy sold or distributed in the country. Monitoring shall include sampling and 
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testing to determine the lead levels contained in the candy. 
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SECTION 3. Excess Lead . ....: If the lead level in candy that is tested by the DTI exceeds" 
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the maximum allowable level, the Department shall: 
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(A) 
Issue health advisory notices alerting them of the danger posed by consumption of 
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such candy exceeding the maximum allowable lead level; and 
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(B) 
NotifY the manufacturer and the distributor that such candy exceeds the maximum 
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allowable lead level, and that such candy shall not be sold or distributed until further testing 
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proves that the candy is in compliance with the maximum allowable lead level. 
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SECTION 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared to be 
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unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby 
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shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
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SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or 
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parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of (his Act are hereby repealed, amended, or 
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modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 6. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
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following its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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