I 
I' , 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE FtESPUBLIC) 
:2 1 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
CT 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 16, Section 9, provides: 
The State shall protect consumers from trade malpractices and 
from substandard or hazardous products. 
Consumption of bottled water has increased markedly in recent years, with 
thousands of households currently consuming bottled drinking water as their source of 
drinking water. 
Consumers are paying premium prices for bottled water based on the assumption 
that it is of superior quality to their tap water. 
Unfortunately, bottled water sold in the country is left unregulated. This certainly 
is a cause for concern, as there exists a possibility that the bottled water sold in the 
market is not of superior quality as claimed. 
The purpose of this bill is to establish quality standards for mineral and 
carbonated water. 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE RESPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
Lntroduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING QUALITY STANDARDS FOR MINERAL. WATER 
AND CARBONATED WATER 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall he known as the “Safe Bottled Water 
Act.” 
SECTION 2. Definitions. - For the purposes of this Act: 
(1) The term “Director” means the Director of the Bureau of Foods and 
Drugs. 
(2) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Department of 
Health. 
SECTION 3. National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for Bottled Water. - 
(1) (A) When the Director promulgates interim or revised national primary 
drinking water regulations concerning maximum contaminant levels, such regulations 
shall be applicable to all bottled drinking waters, including mineral, spring, natural, 
sparkling water, and vended water. 
(€3) Not later than twelve (12) months after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary shall establish quality standards and definitions for mineral water and 
carbonated water which include - 
(i) limits for total dissolved solid, sulfate, sodium, and 
trihalomethane content; 


(ii) the Secretary shall insure that standards for mineral water and 
carbonated beverages meet all established health-based drinking water 
standards. 
(2) SOURCE PROTECTION -Not later than twelve (12) months after the 
date of enactment of this section, the Director shall - 
(A) define “approved sources” of bottled water; 
(B)establish criteria to determine the adequacy as well as the 
protection of “approved sources” of bottled water including but not limited 
to - 
(i) minimum well construction standards; 
(ii) minimum 
distance 
separation 
from 
upstream 
wastewater discharges; 
(iii)minimum distance separations from abandoned wells, 
septic tanks, waste impoundments, and landfills. 
(3) MONITORDJG, REPORTING AND INSPECTION- Not later than 
twelve (12) months after the date of enactment of this section, the Director shall - 
(A)establish a bottled water monitoring program which at a 
minimum - 
(i) is as stringent as that used for public water supplies and 
provides for yearly testing and monitoring for unregulated 
contaminants for which public water utilities must test; and 
(ii) requires that any analyses or testing be performed in an 
approved and certified laboratory. 
(B) establish a bottled water reporting program that includes - 
(i) time tables and procedures for timely reporting; 
(ii) provide public notification procedures should a bottled 
water be found to be exceeding health-based standards; 
(C) establish a national registry of bottled water facilities and their 
most current reporting information; 


(D)require that records of sampling and analysis be maintained at 
the plant for not less than two years and shall be available for official 
review upon request; and 
' 
(E).establish a bottled water facility inspection program which 
includes at a minimum two scheduled inspections a year and one 
unscheduled inspection a year. 
(4) RECALL REGULATIONS - Not later than six (6) months after the 
date of enactment of this section, the Director shall - 
(A) establish procedures and public notification guidelines for 
recall of a bottled water product if exceeding any health-based standards. 
(B) require each bottled to develop and submit individual recall 
notification and recall procedures. 
(5) 
PROHIBITION ON DUAL USE OF BOTTLED WATER 
EQUIPMENT - Not 1 ater than twelve ( 12) months after the date o f e nactment of this 
section the Director shall prohibit the processing and bottling of non-carbonated water 
with equipment used to process milk, fruit juice, or other food products likely to 
contribute nutrients for microbiological growth. 
(6) BOTTLING, PACKAGING, AND STORAGE STUDY - The 
Director shall conduct a comprehensive study of contaminants and the extent to which 
they contribute to the degradation of bottled water from the unique processing and 
storage of bottled water. The Director shall pay particular attention to contamination 
problems which may arise from the bottling, packaging, or storage of bottled water 
products. 
SECTION 4. Labeling - Not later than six (6) months after the date of enactment 
of this section the Secretary shall - 
(1) establish and enforce clear, concise, and encoded uniform source 
labeling requirements for all bottled water products which at a minimum includes - 
(A) the original source of the water; 
(B) type of water; 


(C) type of treatment, if any; 
(D) the date of bottling; 
(E) the address of the bottlers; and 
(F) provide numerical specifications of sodium content. 
(2) define mineral water, spring water, naturally carbonated, naturally 
sparkling, well water, natural well water, artesian water, natural artesian water, purified 
water, distilled water, drinking water, and require that the definition for the appropriate 
product be placed on the bottle. 
SECTION 5. Authorization of funding. - There are hereby authorized to be 
appropriated to the Department of Health and Bureau of Food and Drugs, such sums as 
may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. 
SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provisions, 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 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulations contrary to 
or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended 
accordingly. 
SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of denera1 circulation. 
Approved. 
FN: 1583