SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 
1760 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 13, Section 12 provides: 
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OCT -2 All :33 
RECEIVED B\:_~ 
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"The State shall establish and maintain an effective food and drug 
regulatory system and undertake appropriate health, manpower development, and 
research, responsive to the country's health needs and problems." 
Dietary supplements and weight-loss aids are not subject to the same rigorous standards 
by the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) as are prescription drugs or medications sold over-
the-counter. These weight-loss supplements do not have to disclos~ a full list of ingredients, and 
often trigger a host of harmful side effects, including nausea, high blood pressure, diarrhea, 
indigestion, heart rate irregularities, insomnia, vomiting, or worse. This "buyer beware" policy is 
troublesome enough regarding adult consumers, but it is particularly alarming with regard to 
teenagers and children. Warning labels on many of these products alert that they are "for adult 
use only," or are "not for use by individuals under 18 years of age," but yet there are no 
regulations which restrict a retailer from selling these products to children. We must protect our 
children from unfettered access to untested weight-loss supplements that could wreak potentially 
permanent damage on their bodies. 
This legislation would address this problem by not only making prohibiting the sale of 
over-the-counter weight loss supplements to persons younger than 18, but also by requiring 
retailers selling these supplements to post in a conspicuous location a sign stating that selling 
over-the-counter weight loss supplements to persons younger than 18 is a violation of the law.' 
~\w 411:.~-J~ 
~IRIAM DEFttSSOR S 
TIAfO' 
• This bill was originally filed in the F0U11eenth Congress, Second Regular Session. 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENA..,TE 
S.No. 
~760 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
1 
AN ACT 
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OCT -2 !\1 i :33 
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PROHIBITING THE SALE OF OVER-THE-COUNTER WEIGHT LOSS SUPPLEMENTS 
3 
TO MINORS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
. 
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SECTION 1. Definition. - For the purposes of this Act,"Over-the-counter weight loss" 
5 
supplements" means any product intended for the purpose of weight loss that are sold without 
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the need of a prescription. 
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SECTION 2. Prohibition. - Any person operating a 'place of business where over-the-
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counter weight loss supplements are sold or offered for sale is prohibited from selling such 
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products to individuals under eighteen (18) years of age. 
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SECTION 3. Sign. - Any person operating a place of business where over-the-counter 
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weight loss supplements are sold or offered for sale shall post in a conspicuous place a sign upon 
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which there shall be imprinted the following statement, "Sale of over-the-counter weight loss 
13 
supplements to persons under eighteen years of age is prohibited, by law." Such sign shall be 
14 
printed on a white card in red letters at least one-halfinch in height. 
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SECTION 4. Penalty. - Any person who violates section 2 and 3 of this Act shall be 
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penalized with a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos (P 50,000.00) but not more than Two 
17 
Hundred thousand Pesos (P 200,000,00). 
I 


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SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared to be 
2 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby 
3 
shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
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SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts 
5 
thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified 
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accordingly. 
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SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
8 
following its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
2