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{(i}HI;r tl: tilt :';ii:,frnt:H~ 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
J 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
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DCT -3 P6 :03 
SENATE. 
S.No. 1823 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The date of packaging of fresh or processed meat, seafood and poultry is very important 
to consumers because such information give them an idea of whether or not the food they seek to 
buy is still fit for human consumption. Sadly, however, retail food stores almost or never give 
this information to the buying public. Even more deserving of condemnation is the act of some 
retail food stores of employing deceptive practices in an attempt to mislead consumers into 
believing that the meat, seafood or poultry they are buying is fresh or properly processed. 
This bill seeks to protect the people from sicknesses as a result of consuming fresh or 
processed meat, seafood or poultry purchased from retail food stores.' 
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• This bill was originally filed in the Thirteenth Congress, Third Regnlar Session. 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
{t?th;f ~d t~e ~l'l:rd,r~ 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENAT~ 
S.No. 
lH23 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
1 
AN ACT 
'13 
OCT -3 P 6 :03 
2 
REQUIRING RETAIL FOOD STORES TO POST CONSPICUOUSLY NOTICES OF 
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PACKAGING DATES FOR FRESH OR PROCESSED MEAT, SEAFOOD AND 
4 
POULTRY 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as "Retail Food Store Notice of Date 
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of Packaging Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote the general 
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welfare of the people. Pursuant to this policy, this Act seeks to protect people from sicknesses as 
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a result of consuming fresh or processed meat, seafood, or poultry purchased from retail food 
10 
stores. 
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SECTION 3. Definition of Retail Food Store. - As used in this Act, the term "retail food 
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store" means any store selling food at retail, which store is not primarily engaged in the sale of 
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food for consumption on the premises. 
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SECTION 4. Posting of Notice of Packaging Date for Meats, Poultry and Seafood. -
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All retail food store which offers for sale fresh or processed meats, poultry or seafood 
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shall conspicuously post a sign situated so as to be clearly visible to any consumer inspecting 
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such product. The sign shall read: 
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"Notice: You have the right to know where and when fresh or processed meats, 
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poultry or seafood offered for sale were cut and packaged. In addition, you have 
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the right to know what store practices are in relation to the date marked on such 
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products. If you have any questions regarding the packaging of these products, 
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please see the store management or personnel for assistance." 
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Such sign shall be printed with lettering that is legible and shall be three-fourths (3/4) of 
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an inch boldface type. 
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SECTION 5. Penalties. - A violation of any of the provisions of this Act shall be 
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punishable by a fine not exceeding Five Thousand Pesos (P 5,000.00). Failure to comply with the 
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provisions of the Act for the second time shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding Ten 
8 
Thousand Pesos (PlQ,QOO.QO). Thereafter, succeeding violations shall be punishable by a fine not 
9 
exceeding Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00), in addition to a fine of One Thousand Pesos 
10 
(PI ,000.00) for every day that the retail food store fails to comply with the provisions of this Act. 
II 
Any posting or relaying of false packaging information by any retail food store or by 
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anyone acting in its behalf shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding Fifty Thousand Pesos 
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(P50,000.00). If the retail food store is owned or operated by a corporation, partnership, sole 
, 
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proprietor, limited partnership or association, the entity's responsible officers, including, but not 
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limited to, the president, vice-president, chief executive officer, general manager, managing 
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director or officer directly responsible therefore shall be solidarily liable with the retail food store 
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if any of them are found to have knowingly consented to such posting or relaying of false 
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packaging information. 
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SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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