Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 1277

Introduced by HONORABLE LUIS RAYMUND F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1987 Constitution. Article 11. Section 15 states that the "State shall
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health
consciousness among them."

In the Philippines, the labeling of "fresh milk" on the packaging of milk

market. Most milk cartons bear the label "fresh milk," leading consumers to
believe that the contents are fresh. This manner of advertising is false because
milk sold in groceries, with expiry dates beyond a week, are pasteurized yet they
still retain the label "fresh"

Most milk sold in the market are imported and therefore had to undergo
ultrahigh temperature treatment (UHT) to withstand the amount of time needed
to transport the milk while remaining edible. Although of high quality, IJHT milk is
not the same as fresh milk as it has undergone processing. Hence, the labeling
of pasteurized milk is not only false, it is misleading and inappropriate.

This bill seeks to prohibit the labeling of pasteurized milk products or IIHT
treated milk products as "fresh milk" on packaging. With the proper labeling of
milk products, the bill can not only protect consumers but also the local
producers of fresh milk products.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought,

. VILLAFUERTE, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 1277

Introduced by HONORABLE LUIS RAYMUND F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT PROHIBITING THE USE OF LABEL "FRESH MILK" IN THE
PACKAGING AND SALE OF PASTEURIZED AND PROCESSED MILK AND
PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF

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

SECTION 1. Short Titles .— This Act shall be known as the "Milk Nutrition and
Labeling Act.”

SECTION 2. Prohibitions . — Producers, importers, and traders of pasteurized and
processed milk are hereby prohibited from using the label “fresh milk’ in the
packaging and sale of milk products.

-RLECTION P—naltipe — PrnHi imnnrtore and tradere mf *ri7Ad and

processed milk using the label "fresh milk" in their milk products shall be penalized
as follows:

FIRST OFFENSE: A fine often thousand pesos (PhP10,000.00)

SECOND OFFENSE: A fine of fifty thousand pesos (PhP50,000.00)

THIRD OFFENSE: A fine of two-hundred thousand pesos (PhP200,000.00)
SECTION 4. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconditional, the remainder of the law not otherwise affected shall remain valid and
subsisting

SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary


or inconsistent with the provision on this Act is hereby revealed modified or amended
accordingly.

SECTION 6. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days

after publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved.