THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 
I 
I 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR JR. 
I 
I 
I 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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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 co tents in food products. 
P 
MANUEL B. V LLAR, JR. 
1 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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30 p ;s ;‘jij 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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‘Y? 
SENATE 
s. No. 
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Q. 
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INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR JR. 
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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) 
total fat. 
(3) 
measurement of the food - 
“Total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates, complex 
carbohydrates, sugars, dietary fiber, and total protein” 
number of servings or other units of measure per container; 
the total number of calories derived from any source, and derived from the 
The amount of the following nutrients in each serving size or other unit of 
(4) 
any vitamin, mineral, or other nutrient required to be placed on the label or 
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 
SECTION 7. 
unconstitutional, the 
consumer commodity for distribution in commerce, or for any person engaged in the distribution 
Separability clause - if any provision, or part hereof, is held invalid or 
remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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 
order, letter of instructiop, administrative order, rule of regulation contrary to, or inconsistent 
with the provisions of thi$ Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 9. Efiectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,