Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONG:
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No._ 4268

Introduced by REP.

DERO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Banning food businesses from throwing away and spoiling unsold food can be an effective
means in addressing food waste. Moreover, it can also serve as a mover for these businesses to
make use of such unsold food for charity purposes through donation.

Food waste is a serious issue not only in the Philippines but in the world as well. According
to the Food and Agriculture Organization, in 2011 alone, over 1.3 billion tons of food is lost each
year. In rice for instance, every Filipino wasted an average of 3.29 kg/year per the Food and
Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology. This translates to
296,869 metric tons of rice accounting to 12.2% of our annual rice importation, In money, the lost
amounts to PhP7.3 billion. :

Admittedly, this bill does not seek to completely address food waste as there are other
to contend with, However, it is strongly submitted that this Bill can make a difference and
initiate further awareness in addressing food waste.

facior

Respectfully submitted.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

ENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4263

Introduced by REP. EVELINA G, ESCUDERO

AN ACT
BANNING SUPERMARKETS, FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS AND OTHER SIMILAR
BUSINESSES FROM THROWING AWAY AND SPOILING UNSOLD FOOD

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby declared a policy of the State to establish
and maintain an effective food regulatory system that shall address the needs of every Filipino,
especially those in the marginalized sector or those living below the poverty threshold. Equally
important as well is that such regulatory system shall enable to secure nutritional balance while
addressing the problem of food waste

SEC. 2. Scope and Coverage. ~ This Act shall apply to supermarkets, food establishments
and other similar businesses whose classification as such shall be determined by the Department of
Trade and Industry based on size, number of clientele and amount of food being sold, distributed
or manufactured for public consumption...

EC. 3. Statutory Ban and Penalty, — It shall be unlawful for any supermarket, food
establishment or any similar business, as defined in Section 2 of this Act to throw away or spoil
unsold food

Any person, natural or juridical, who shall violate this provision shall suffer the penalty of a
fine ranging from Php 1,000,000,00 to Php 5,000,000.00 depending on the amount thrown away or
spoiled unsold food and the number of times the violation is committed.

The Department of Trade and Industry shall promulgate the corresponding implementing
rules and regulations on the imposition of penalty taking into consideration the range and
n provided

is of
nflation rate and consumer price index.

ver, said Department is empowered to increase the penalty of fine on the bi
prevailing economic indicators such as, but not limited to,

ion 4, Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ The Department of Trade and Industry
nulgate the necessary rules and regulations to effectively carry out the provisions of this
‘Act within 90 days from the effectivity of this Act. The said Department is given the mandate to



task other concerned agencies of government for the promulgation of the implementing rules and
regulations.

SE Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected hereby shall remain valid and subsisting.

SEC. 6, Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree, issuance, executive order, letter
of instruction, administrative order, rule and regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SEC. 7. Effectivity. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two
(2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette,

Approved,