FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
First Regular Session 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
? JUL -3 P421 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The use of staple wires in packing food has been a common practice of 
most commercial food manufacturers and establishments. 
Convenient, fast and practical as it may appear, the use of staple wires for 
packing food is definitely a health hazard. The risk of the staple wires getting 
mixed and consumed with the food unnoticed is always a possibility and as in 
most cases, the staple wires become rusty as a result of exposure to certain 
elements. In this case, even if the staple wires are not actually mixed with the 
food, health hazards are already present. 
In this modern age, there are several other means of packaging food 
items that can be used as safer alternatives to staple wires. 
This simple piece of legislation can be considered worthwhile and 
meaningful even if it can only save the life of a single Filipino. 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
First Regular Session 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
7 JUL -3 P432 
S.B.NO. 863 
I 
Introduced by Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
PROHIBITING THE USE OF STAPLE WIRES OR ANY OTHER SIMILAR 
FORM OF METAL OBJECTS AS MEDIUM FOR CLOSING AND SEALING 
FOOD ITEMS INSIDE ITS PACKAGING PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR 
VIOLATION THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Represenfafives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION I. 
Short Title. This Act shall be known as “Staple Wires on 
Food Items Prohibition Act of 2007” 
Sec. 2. Definition of Terms. - Whenever used in this Act, the following 
terms shall mean: 
a,) staple wires - shall refer to U-shaped wires or other similar forms of metal 
or hard plastic objects which are used for driving through layers of 
penetrable packaging material in order to hold, seal, close or secure any 
opening through clinching together of separate layers of a packaging : 
b.) packaging - shall refer to bags, containers and wrappers, regardless of 
sizes, shapes and materials used; employed by food sellers to place food 
items being sold: 
c.) food items - all kinds of foods classified as manufactured, processed, 
non-processed, cooked and raw meat intended for human consumption; 
Sec. 3. Coverage. -All food sellers comprising of hotels, restaurants, food 
chains, food manufacturers, canteens, markets, stores, vendors and other similar 


establishments engaged in the activity of selling or producing food items, whether 
or not a registered business entity under the existing laws, shall be covered by 
this Act. 
Sec. 4. Prohibited Act. - Any provision of 
law to the contrary 
notwithstanding, it shall be unlawful for food sellers to use staple wires as 
medium for closing, sealing or holding together packaging of food items 
manufactured, produced and sold in the market, including those used for as outer 
packaging of food items already contained in a primary packaging. 
Sec. 5. Penalties. - Any food sellers violating this act, upon conviction, be 
punished by a fine of not less than Five Thousand Pesos (P5,OOO.OO) but not 
more than Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00), or an imprisonment of not more 
than six (6) months, or both at the discretion of the court. Provided however, if 
the violation is made by a corporation, association, or partnership, the penalty 
provided herein shall be imposed upon the directors, president, or managing 
partners. 
SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, or administrative 
rules and regulations or any part thereof which may be inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect thirty (30) days after its 
publication in two (2) newspapers of national circulation. 
Approved,