—

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE cea
OF THE PHILIPPINES
Second Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
House BillNo.. 6194 SS

Introduced by: Atty. MA. THERESA B. BONOAN-DAVID
Representative, District 4, City of Manila

EXPLANATORY NOTE

As expressly stated in Article Il, Section 15 of the Constitution, it provides that the
“State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health
consciousness among them”

At present, there is no existing law requiring manufacturers, packagers, or
distributors to indicate the nutritional value of food products on their labels. Due to
the deluge of various food products in the market, there is an urgent need for
consumers to be wary of such detail/s to be able to make well informed choices
especially if it concerns health issues

This legislation is submitted with the following statistics as backdrop,
highlighting its significance (Philippine Development Plan, 2011-2016):

+ Stunting and Wasting among children under 5 years old are at high levels at
32.2 % and 7.5%. Stunting is an indication of prolonged deprivation of food and
frequent bouts of infection. Wasting is an indication of lack of food or infection in the
immediate past.

+ About 26.3% of pregnant women are nutritionally at risk.

+ Micronutrient deficiencies continue to be a health concern among children
This bill, therefore, seeks to promote health consciousness among the public
through proper labeling of nutritional contents in food products.

In view of the foregoing, the urgent passage of this proposed measure is
requested.

ATTY. MA. THERESA B. BONOAN-DAVID
Representative, 4" District Manila


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC)
OF THE PHILIPPINES )
2"° Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
House Bill No. 6.4194

Introduced by : Atty. MA. THERESA B, BONOAN-DAVID
Representative, 4" District, City of Manila

eee = AN

ACTTO PRESCRIBE NUTRITION LABELING FOR FOOD PRODUCTS,AND
PROVIDING FRAMEWORK FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.

Be it enacted by the House of Representatives and Senate of the Philippine Congress assembled ;

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Nutrition
Labeling Act of 2012” ra

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - \t is hereby declared the policy of the state to
ensure that consumers have access to accurate information as to the nutritional
contents of food and food products to facilitate value comparison and 7 promote a free
market economy.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. -

(a) The term “label” means any written, printed, or graphic matter affixed to any
consumer commodity or affixed to or appearing upon a package containing any
consumer commodity.

(b) The term "package" means any container or wrapping in which any consumer
commodity is enclosed for use in the delivery or display of that consumer commodity to
retail purchasers but does not include -(1) Shipping containers or wrapping used solely
for the transportation of any consumer commodity in bulk or in quantity to
manufacturers, packers, or processors, or to wholesale or retail distributors thereof, or
(2) Shipping containers or outer wrappings used by retailers to ship and deliver any
commodity to retail customers if such containers and wrappings bear no printed matter
pertaining to any particular commodity (c) The term "food" means any material usually
of plant or animal origin, containing or consisting of essential body nutrients, that must
be taken in or assimilated by a person as nourishment to maintain life and growth.
SECTION 4. Requirements of labeling. _

(a) The. commodity shall bear a label specifying the identity of the commodity and the
name and place of business of the manufacturer packer, or distributor.
‘(b) The separate label of statement nutritional shall appear its conspicuous and easily
legible type in distinct contrast by typographical ,layout, color, embossing, or molding
with other matter on the package.
(c) The label shalll also contain the following;
(4) number of servings or other units of measure per container;
(2) the total number of calories derived from any source and derived from the
total fat '
(3) The amount of the foliowing nutrients in each serving size or other unit of
measurement of food -"Total fat, saturated fat, cholestero!, sodium, total
carbohydrates,complex carbohydraies, sugars, dietary fiber, and total protein"
(4) any vitamin, mineral, or other nutrient required to be placed on the label or
labeling of food it is determined that such information will assist consumers in
maintaining healthy dietary practices.



(d) If a food contains insignificant amounts, as determined by the Bureau of Food and
Drugs, of all the nutrients required to be listed in the label or labeling of food, the
requirements of such shall not apply to such food if the label, labeling the label, labeling,
or advertising of such food does not make any claim with respect to the nutritive value
of such food

(e) No packaged consumer commodity shall be distributed or caused fo be distributed in
commerce unless it conforms with the regulations set by this Act and established by the
Bureau of Food and Drugs.

SEC. 5. Punishable Acts. -

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person engaged in the packaging or labeling of
any consumer commodity for distribution in commerce, or for any person engaged in the
distribution in commerce of any packaged or labeled consumer commodity, to distribute
or to cause to be distributed in commerce any such commodity if such commodity is
contained in a package, or if there is affixed to that commodity a label, which does not
conform to the provisions of this Act and of regulations promulgated under the authority
of this Act.

(b) This prohibition shall not apply to persons engaged in the business as
wholesale or retail distributors of consumer commodities except to the extent that such
persons (I)a re engaged in the packaging or labeling of such commodities, or (2)
prescribed or specify by any means the manner in which such commodities are
packaged or labeled.

SEC. 6. Consumer Education. - The Secretary of the Department of Health
with the Bureau of Food and Drugs shall carry out activities which educate consumers
about (1) the availability of nutrition information in the label or labeling of food, and (2)
the importance of that information in maintaining healthy dietary practices.

SEC. 7. 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. 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law presidential decree or issuances,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rules and regulation contrary
to, or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or
amended accordingly. &

SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,