FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
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S E N A T E  
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S. No. u
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Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The protection of public health is the primary duty of the State. It is the mandate of the 
State to protect and promote the well being of its citizens Towards this end, it is the duty of the 
State to protect the interests of consumers, promote their general welfare and establish 
standards of conduct for business and industry. 
Article 23 of Republic Act No. 7394, otherwise known as the "Consumer Act of the 
Philippines" specifically provides that a food shall be deemed to be adulterated if it is, in whole 
or part, the product of a diseased animal or of an animal which has died other than by slaughter. 
Furthermore, Art. 41 of the same Act provides that any person who sells double dead meat 
shall, upon conviction, be subject to imprisonment of not less than one (1) year but not more 
than five (5) years, or a fine of not less than Five Thousand Pesos (P5,OOO.OO) but not more 
than Ten Thousand Pesos (PlO,OOO.OO), or both such imprisonment and fine, in the discretion 
of the Court. 
However, despite the existence of a law that prohibits and penalizes the selling of double 
dead meat, the proliferation of double dead meat in the market remains unabated. 
According to the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), last May 2008, about three 
(3) tons of pork and 63 kilos of buffalo meat were being sold by around 10 stalls outside the 
market for about P80-P90 per kilo. Moreover, last November 5, 2008, health officials reported 
that at least one villager died and 53 others were taken will after eating "double dead" meat 
during a wake in the remote upland town of Suyo in llocos province. 
Consumers are especially attracted to buy double dead meat because of their relatively 
low price. These double dead meat are widely considered to be harmful to consumers' health 
since the animals most likely died from various illnesses before being butchered and sold. 
These meat have a grayish tint to them which clearly indicate that blood had spread throughout 
$he animal's flesh for not having undergone the normal slaughter procedures. The continued 
proliferation of these hot or double-dead meat deemed unfit for human consumption in various 
markets pose a health hazard to unsuspecting consumers. 
As such, there is an urgent need to enact legislative intervention that will increase the 
penalty for persons, natural or juridical, found selling or distributing double dead meat in order to 
protect the health and welfare of the general public. 
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
MAN f p L  
EL ''LlTO" M. -2 
LAPlD 
Senator 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
1 
‘3 MAR -*3 [’ .; :i 2 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
) 
S E N A T E  
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Introduced by Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7394, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
“CONSUMER ACT OF THE PHILIPPINES” BY IMPOSING STIFFER 
PENALTIES FOR 
ANY PERSON, NATURAL OR JURIDICAL, WHO 
OFFERS TO SELL OR DISTRIBUTE, IN WHOLE OR PART, AN 
ADULTERATED MEAT PRODUCT OF A DISEASED ANIMAL OR OF AN 
ANIMAL WHICH HAS DIED OTHER THAN BY SLAUGHTER, OTHERWISE 
TERMED AS UDOUBLE DEAD MEAT” AND FOR OTHER PURPOSE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Consumer 
Protection from Adulterated Meat Act of 2009”. 
SEC. 2. 
Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the 
State to protect and promote the right to health of the people. It is the policy of the State 
to protect the interests of the consumer, promote his general welfare and to establish 
standards of conduct for business and industry. Towards this end, the State shall 
protect and safeguard the people from adulterated meat products that is harmful to the 
health of the general public and protect them against this deceptive and unconscionable 
sales practice. 
SEC. 3. 
Art. 40. of Republic Act No. 7394, otherwise known as the 
“Consumer Act offhe Philippines” is hereby amended in part to read as follows: 
“Art. 41. Penalties. - (a) Any person who violates any of the 
provisions of Article 40 hereof shall, upon conviction, be subject to 
imprisonment of not less than [one (I)] 
TWO (2) years but not more 
than [five (5)] SIX (6) years, or a fine of not less than [Five] TEN 


thousand pesos [(P5,000.00)] 
(10,000.00) but not more than [Ten] ONE 
HUNDRED thousand pesos [(PlO,OOO.OO)] 
(PlOO,OOO.OO), or both such 
imprisonment and fine, in the discretion of the Court. '' 
SEC. 4. 
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. 5 
Repealling Clause - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to 
or inconsistent with the provision of this act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
SEC. 6. 
Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
from the date of its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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