FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 469 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 16, Section 9 provides: 
"The State shall protect consumers from trade malpractices 
and from substandard or hazardous products." 
.• ·,1 
Consumption of bottled water has increased markedly in recent years, 
with thousands of households currently consuming bottled drinking water as their 
source of drinking water. 
Consumers are paying premium prices for bottled water based on the 
assumption that it is of superior quality to their tap water. 
Unfortunately, bottled water sold in the country is left unregulated. This, 
certainly, is a cause of concern, as there exists a possibility that the bottled water 
sold in the market is not of superior quality as claimed. 
The purpose of this bill is to establish quality standards for mineral and, 
carbonated and other bottled water, hence, immediate approval hereof is 
earnestly solicited. 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 469 
) 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING QUALITY STANDARDS FOR MINERAL, CARBONATED AND 
OTHER BOTTLED WATER 
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 "Safe Bottled 
Water Act." 
SEC. 2. Definitions. - For the purpose of this Act: 
1) The term "Director" means the Director of the Bureau of Food and 
Drugs; 
2) The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Department of 
Health. 
SEC. 3. National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for Bottled 
Water. -
(A) (1) When the Director promulgates interim or revised national primary 
drinking water regulations concerning maximum contaminants levels, such 
regulations shall be applicable to all bottled drinking waters, including mineral, 
spring, natural sparkling water and vended water. 
(2) Not later than twelve (12) months after the date of enactment of this 
section, the Secretary shall establish quality standards and definitions for mineral 
water and carbonated water which include-
a) limits for total dissolved solids, sulfate, sodium and trihalomethane 
content; 
b) the Secretary shall insure that standards for mineral water and 
carbonated beverages meet all established health-based drinking 
water standards. 
(B) Source Protection. - Not later than twelve (12) months after the date of 
enactment of this section, the Director shall-


1) define 'approved sources' of bottled water; 
2) establish criteria to determine the adequacy as well as the protection of 
approved sources' of bollied water including but not limited to -
a) minimum well construction standards; 
b) minimum 
distance 
separation 
from 
upstream 
wastewater 
discharges; 
c) minimum distance separations from abandoned wells, septic,tanks, 
waste impoundmenl'and landfills. 
(C) Monitoring, Reporting and Inspection. - Not later than twelve (12) 
months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall -
1) establish a bottled water monitoring program which at a minimum-
a) is as stringent as t~at used for public water supplies and provides 
for yearly testing and monitoring for unregulated contaminants for 
which public water utilities must test, and 
b) requires that any analyses or testing be performed in an approved 
and certified laboratory. 
2) establish a bottled water reporting program that includes -
a) time tables and procedures for timely reporting; 
b) provide public notification procedures should a bollied water be 
found to be in exceed of health based standards; 
c) establish a national registry of bottled water facilities and their most 
current reporting information, and 
d) require that records of sampling and analysis be maintained at the 
plant for not less that two (2) years and shall be available for official 
review upon request, 
3) establish a bottled water facility inspection program which includes at a 
minimum two scheduled inspections a year and one unscneduled 
inspection a year. 
(D) Recall Regulations. - Not later than six (6) months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director shall -
1) establish procedures and public notification guidelines for recall of a 
bottled water product if exceed of any health based standards occurs. 
2) Require each bottled water to develop and submit individual recall 
notification and recall procedures. 


• 
(E) Prohibition of Dual Use of Bottled Water Equipment. - Not later than 
twelve (12) months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall 
prohibit the processing and bottling of non-carbonated water with equipment 
used to process milk, fruit juice or other food products likely to contribute 
nutrients for microbiological growth. 
(F) Bottling, Packaging and Storage Study. - The Director shall conduct a 
comprehensive study of contaminants and the extent to which they contribute to 
the degradation of bottled water from the unique processing and storage of 
bottled water. The Director shall pay particular attention to contamination 
problems which may arise from the bottling, packaging or storage of bottled 
water products. 
SEC. 4. Labeling. - Not later than six (6) months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall -
1) establish and enforce clear, concise, and un-coded uniform source 
labeling requirements for all bottled water products which at a minimum 
includes-
a) the original source of the water; 
b) type of water; 
c) type of treatment, if any; 
d) the date of bottling; 
e) the address of the bottler; and 
f) provide numerical specification of sodium content. 
2) define mineral water, spring water, naturally carbonated, naturally 
sparkling, well water, natural well water, artesian water, natural artesian 
water, purified water, distilled water, drinking water, and require that the 
definition for the appropriate product be placed on the bottle. 
SEC. 5. Authorization of Funding. - There are hereby authorized to be 
appropriated to the Department of Health and Bureau of Food and Drugs, such 
sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. 
SEC .. 6. 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. 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rules or regulations 
contrary to or inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, 
modified or amended accordingly. 
SEC. 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,