FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 969 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 11, Section 15, provides that "the State shall protect 
and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among 
them." 
The is no law requiring manufacturers, packers or distributors to indicate the 
nutritional value of food products on their labels. 
This bill seeks to promote health consciousness among the public through 
proper labeling of nutritional contents in food products. 
MANNY V LLAR 9 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 964 
~- 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
AN ACT TO PRESCRIBE NUTRITION LABELING FOR FOODS 
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 "Nutrition Labeling Act." 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy - It is hereby declared the policy of the State 
to ensure that consumers have access to accurate information as to the nutritional 
contents of food and food products to facilitate value comparison and promote a free 
market economy. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. 
(a) The term "label" means any written, printed, or graphic matter affixed to any 
consumer commodity or affixed to or appearing upon a package containing any 
consumer commodity. 
(b) The term "package" means any container or wrapping in which any consumer 
commodity is enclosed for use in the delivery or display of that consumer commodity to 
retail purchasers but does not include - 
(1) Shipping containers or wrapping used solely for the transportation of 
any consumer commodity in bulk or in quantity to manufacturers, packers, or 
processors, or to wholesale or retail distributors thereof; or 


(2) Shipping containers or outer wrappings used by retailers to ship and 
deliver any commodity to retail customers if such containers and wrappings bear 
no printed matter pertaining to any particular commodity. 
(c) The term “food” means any material usually of plant or animal origin, 
containing or consisting of essential body nutrients, that must be taken in or 
assimilated by a person as nourishment to maintain life and growth. 
SECTION 4. Requirements of labeling. 
(a) 
The commodity shall bear a label specifying the identity of the commodity 
and the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor. 
(b) 
The separate label statement of nutritional content shall appear its 
conspicuous and easily legible type in distinct contrast by typography, layout, color, 
embossing, or molding with other matter on the package. 
(c) 
The label shall also contain the following; 
(1) 
(2) 
from the total fat. 
(3) 
unit of measurement of the food - 
“Total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates, complex 
carbohydrates, sugars, dietary fiber, and total protein” 
(4) 
label or 
number of servings or other units of measure per container; 
the total number of calories derived from any source, and derived 
The amount of the following nutrients in each serving size or other 
any vitamin, mineral, or other nutrient required to be placed on the 
labeling of food if it is determined that such information will assist 
consumers in maintaining healthy dietary practices. 
If a food contains insignificant amounts, as determined by the Bureau of 
Food and Drugs, of all the nutrients required to be listed in the label or labeling of food, 
the requirements of such shall not apply to such food if the label, labeling, or advertising 
of such food does not make any claim with respect to the nutritive value of such food. 
(d) 


(e) 
No packaged consumer commodity shall be distributed or caused to be 
distributed in commerce unless it conforms with the regulations set by this Act and 
established by the Bureau of Food and Drugs. 
SECTION 5. Punishable Acts. 
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any person engaged in the packaging or labeling of 
any consumer commodity for distribution in commerce, or for any person engaged in 
the distribution in commerce of any packaged or labeled consumer commodity, to 
distribute or to cause to be distributed in commerce any such commodity if such 
commodity is contained in a package, or if there is affixed to that commodity a label, 
which does not conform to the provisions of this Act and of regulations promulgated 
under the authority of this Act. 
(b) 
This prohibition shall not apply to persons engaged in the business as 
wholesale or retail distributors of consumer commodities except to the extent that such 
persons (I) 
are engaged in the packaging or labeling of such commodities, or (2) 
prescribe or specify by any means the manner in which such commodities are 
packaged or labeled. 
SECTION 6. Consumer Education. 
The Secretary of the Department of Health with the Bureau of Food and Drugs 
shall carry out activities which educate consumers about- 
(1) the availability of nutrition information in the label or labeling of food, and 
(2) the importance of that information in maintaining healthy dietary practices. 
SECTION 7. 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. 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause - Any law presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule of regulation contrary to, 
or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended 
accordingly. 


SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,