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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
HON. EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 
AN ACT  
MANDATING FOOD MANUFACTURERS TO DISPLAY COLOR-
CODED NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION ON FOOD PACKAGING AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Filipino population suffers from the “double burden of 
malnutrition,” or the co-existence of undernutrition along with overweight 
and obesity. Data from the 2019 Expanded National Nutrition Survey 
(ENNS) by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) shows that 
while 29.6% of children below five years old are stunting, the prevalence 
of overweight and obesity among school children, adolescents, and adults 
is increasing at an alarming rate. 
According to the ENNS, 10.4% of school children, 10.7% of 
adolescents, and 36.6% of adults are overweight or obese in 2019, 
making them vulnerable to developing non-communicable diseases 
(NCDs), such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes. These 
rates are way higher than the prevalence in 2003 when overweight and 
obese constitute only 1.9% of school children, 4.9% of adolescents, and 
24% of adults. 
Meanwhile, data from the Family Income and Expenditure Survey 
(FIES) shows that fruits and vegetables constitute a declining share of 
food consumed at home. The World Health Organization (WHO) noted 
that inadequate intake of such fruits and vegetables, together with high 
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concentration of cholesterol in blood, physical inactivity, and tobacco use, 
are identified as huge risk factors to NCDs. 
 
In light of the foregoing, a law that empowers consumers with health 
information is necessary to promote among the general population the 
consumption of adequate and well-balanced diet and healthy lifestyles. 
Thus, this bill requires food manufacturers to provide color-coded nutrition 
label for pre-packaged products sold in retail outlets. This is to inform their 
consumers at a glance if the food has high, medium, or low amounts of 
fat, saturated fat, sugars, and salt. 
 
Instilling health consciousness among consumers and enabling 
them to make informed decisions about their eating habits will not only 
reduce health risks, but also boost productivity, and improve the overall 
quality of life of Filipinos. 
 
Thus, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
 
 
 
HON. EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
HON. EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 
AN ACT  
MANDATING FOOD MANUFACTURERS TO DISPLAY COLOR-
CODED NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION ON FOOD PACKAGING AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
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Philippines in Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Traffic 
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Light Nutritional Labeling Scheme on Food Packaging Act.” 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – The State hereby recognizes that 
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a healthy diet is a foundation of good health, and a crucial element in 
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improving individuals’ productivity and overall well-being. Recognizing 
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that the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is aggravated 
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by poor nutrition, among others, the State shall instill health 
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consciousness among Filipinos towards a desirable food consumption 
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pattern. The State shall also protect and promote the right of every 
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consumer to make informed decisions that can affect their short-term and 
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long-term health. Towards this end, the State recognizes that a color-
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coded scheme is effective in conveying to consumers quick information 
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on the nutritional content of the food products they consume. 
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SEC 3. Definition of Terms. – For the purposes of this Act, the 
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following terms shall have the following meanings:  
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a) 
Food product package means the packet and package of food 
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products that are for sale and distribution in the domestic market, 
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importation, trade, and exchange, such as, but not limited to, packs, 
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tins, boxes, pouches, flip-tops, slide and shell packages, and cartons.  
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b) 
Nutrition facts refers to a statement or information on food labels 
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indicating the nutrient(s) and the quantity of said nutrient found or 
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added in the processed foods or food products. 
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c) 
Pre-packaged food products are foods that are sealed in food 
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product package before being offered for sale; 
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d) 
Principal Display Surface means: 
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i. 
In the case of a package and carton that has at least two (2) 
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equal sized sides or surfaces, other than the top and bottom, 
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that may be displayed or visible under normal or customary 
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conditions of sale or use, the areas of each of the two (2) 
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largest surfaces; 
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ii. 
In the case of a spherical, cylindrical or conical container of 
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food products, the two (2) largest surfaces that are 
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predominantly displayed; and 
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iii. 
In the case of a package and carton that do not have a 
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particular side or surface that is predominantly displayed or 
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visible under normal or customary conditions of sale or use or 
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those that are not described under items (i) and (ii) above, fifty 
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percent (50%) of the three (3) dominant sides or the total 
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surface thereof, whichever is bigger, which will ensure that the 
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color-coded nutritional information is visibly shown. 
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SEC 4. Color Coding of Pre-Packaged Food. – All food 
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manufacturers shall provide color-coded nutrition facts of pre-packaged 
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food products to be shown in the principal display surfaces of food 
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products. 
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The color-coded nutrition facts provided under this Act shall be 
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categorized based on the fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt content of the 
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food product, which shall be represented by the following color codes:  
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a) Red, if the food product contains high level of any of the foregoing 
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nutrient;  
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b) Yellow, if the food product contains medium level of any of the 
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foregoing nutrient; or  
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c) Green, if the food product contains low level of any of the foregoing 
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nutrient.  
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Provided, That the portion of the principal display surface of the food 
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packaging dedicated to the color-coded nutritional information display 
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shall not be lower than fifteen percent (15%) of the surface area of the 
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principal display surface; Provided further, That the nutrition labeling 
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requirements under this Act shall not apply to pre-packaged condiments 
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sold in the market; Provided finally, That nothing herein shall be construed 
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to exempt food manufacturers from complying with existing mandatory 
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nutritional labelling laws and regulations. 
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SEC. 5. Determination of Nutrition Content of Foods and 
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Certification; Quality Assurance. – The nutrition information provided 
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by food manufacturers in all food product packages shall be in accordance 
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with the standards set by relevant government agencies. For this purpose, 
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the Food and Drug Administration, in coordination with the Department of 
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Science and Technology (DOST) Food and Nutrition Research Institute 
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(FNRI) shall have the authority to require all food manufacturers to submit 
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sworn statements and relevant information to substantiate their 
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declarations.  
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SEC. 6. Transition Period. – All food manufacturers covered under 
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this Act shall have a period of one (1) year to comply with the provisions 
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of this Act.  
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SEC. 7. Penalties. — All food manufacturers that fail to comply with 
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any provisions of this Act shall be subject to the following penalties: 
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a) First (1st) Violation – A fine of not less than Five Hundred Thousand 
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Pesos (Php500,000), and an order to comply with the provisions of 
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this Act within two (2) months from the issuance of such order; 
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b) Second (2nd) Violation – A fine of not less than One Million Pesos 
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(Php1,000,000), with an order to comply with the provisions of this 
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Act within one (1) month from the issuance of such order; 
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c) Third (3rd) Violation – A fine of not less than Two Million Pesos 
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(Php2,000,000), with an order to comply with the provisions of this 
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Act within seven (7) days from the issuance of such order.  
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d) All subsequent violations shall be imposed a fine of not less than 
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Five Million Pesos (Php5,000,000), and revocation of all relevant 
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permits issued by the FNRI and FDA, including revocation of 
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business permit to operate within the concerned local government 
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unit. 
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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the fines imposed under 
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this Section shall be paid to the Department of Health (DOH), which shall 
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be utilized to initiate and execute campaigns relating to nutrition education 
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in public schools. 
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SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Guidelines. – Within sixty (60) 
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days after the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Health (DOH), 
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DOST, and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in consultation 
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with relevant government agencies and other stakeholders, shall 
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formulate the rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions 
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of this Act.  
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SEC. 9. Separability Clause. – Any portion or provisions of this Act 
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that may be declared unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect 
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of nullifying other portions and provisions hereof as long as such 
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remaining portions or provisions can still subsist and be given effect in 
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their entirety.  
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SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders, 
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proclamations and administrative regulations, or any parts thereof 
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inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby revoked, repealed 
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or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 11.  Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) 
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days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
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newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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