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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 15, provides that “the State shall protect and promote 
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the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.” 
There is no law requiring manufacturers, packers, or distributors to indicate the 
nutritional value of food products on their labels. 
This bill seeks to promote health consciousness among the public through proper labeling 
of nutritional contents in food products. 


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THRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO PRESCRIBE NUTRITION LABELING FOR FOODS 
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 “Nutrition Labeling Act’: 
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SECTION 2 .  !D@uration of Policy. - It 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 comparisons and promote a free market economy. 
SECTION 3. DeJinitions. -As used in this Act: 
(1) The term ‘‘label’’ means any written, printed, or graphic matter affixed to any 
consumer commodity or affixed to or appearing upon y package containing any consumer 
commodity. 
(2) 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 - 
(a) Shipping containers or wrappings 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 
(b) 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. 


(3) The term “food” means any material, usually of plant or animal origin, 
containing or consisting of essential body nutrients that ~ u s t  
be taken in or assimilated by a 
person as nourishment to life and growth. 
SECTION 4. Requirements oflabeling. - 
(1) 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; 
(2) The separate label statement of nutritional content shall appear in conspicuous 
and easily legible type in distinct contrast (by topography, layout, color, embossing, or molding 
with other matter on the package); 
(3) The label shall also contain the following: 
(a) number of servings or other units of measure per container; 
(b) the total number of calories derived from any source, and derived fi-om the 
total fat; and 
(c) the amount of the following nutrients in each serving size or other unit of 
measurement of the food. 
Total fat 
Saturated fat 
Cholesterol 
Sodium 
Total carbohydrates 
Complex carbohydrates 
Sugars 
Dietary fiber 
and total protein 
(d) any vitamin, mineral, or other nutrient required to be placed on the label or 
labeling of food if it is determined that such information will assist consumers in maintaining 
healthy dietary practices. 


(4) 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, or advertising of 
such shall not apply to such food if the label, labeling, or advertising of such food does not make 
any claim with respect to nutritive value of such food. 
(5) No packaged consumer commodity shall be distributed or caused to be distributed 
in commerce unless it conforms with the regulations set by this Act and established by the 
Bureau of Food and Drugs. 
SECTION 5. Punishable Acts. - 
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person engaged in the packaging or labeling of any 
consumer commodity for distribution in commerce of 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. 
(2) 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 
(1) are engaged in the packaging or labeling of such commodities, or (2) prescribe or specify by 
any means the manner in which such commodities are packaged or labeled. 
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SECTION 6. Consumer Educafion. - 
The Secretary of Department of Health, with the Bureau of Food and Drugs shall cany 
out activities which educate consumers about - 
(1) the availability of nutrition information in the label or labeling of food; and 
(2) the importance of the information in maintaining healthy dietary practices. 
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the r eminder o f t he 1 aw o f t  he provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 


SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or i ssuance, executive 
order, letter of i nstruction, administrative o rder, rule or regulation c ontrary t 0, or i nconsistent 
with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 9. lEffeectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least 'two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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