Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. ___________ 
Introduced by Honorable Ma. Alana Samanta Taliño Santos 
AN ACT PROHIBITING THE SALE OF OVER-THE-COUNTER WEIGHT LOSS 
SUPPLEMENTS TO MINORS   
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Over the years, the use of medically unapproved and non-prescribed weight loss drugs and supplements 
has been a rising public health concern. A 2024 systematic global review revealed that one out of ten 
adolescents have been using a medically unapproved weight loss product.  
Young Filipinos are especially susceptible to trying out cosmetic weight loss with the increasing 
exposure and influence of social media. In this digital age, social media is now an essential part of 
these young people's lives and it governs their interpersonal relationships. Social media affinity also 
influences their body image and dissatisfaction.  
In various digital platforms, there are countless content surrounding personalities and celebrities 
promoting diet fads, along with their reported usage of the increasingly popular glucagon-like peptide-
1 (GLP-1)  semaglitude drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. While usage of these cosmetic weight loss 
drugs has been extensively studied, it is worth noting that they have recently been just approved. 
Medication still poses serious side effects such as nausea, gastrointestinal and muscle mass problems. 
Yet the drug’s popularity is still increasing. Off-brand, unregulated, and generic versions flood the 
market.  
As a response, several countries have placed restrictions on access for unregulated cosmetic weight 
loss products. Despite the multiple public health warnings placed by the country’s Food and Drug 
Administration (FDA), these products remain primarily unregulated and openly accessible on social 
media.  
This measure imposes greater restriction on the sale of over-the-counter (OTC) weight loss products 
for people under eighteen (18) years of age, mandating a clear sign readable in their place businesses 
that its sale for minors is prohibited by law.  
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this measure is earnestly sought. 
MA. ALANA SAMANTHA TALIÑO SANTOS 
       Representative 
    3rd District, Cotabato Province 
11001
October 28, 2024
1:35 pm


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. ___________ 
Introduced by Honorable Ma. Alana Samanta Taliño Santos 
AN ACT PROHIBITING THE SALE OF OVER-THE-COUNTER WEIGHT LOSS 
SUPPLEMENTS TO MINORS   
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Definition. - For the purposes of this Act, “over-the-counter weight loss 
supplements” means any product intended for the purpose of weight loss that is sold without the 
need of a prescription. 
SECTION 2. Prohibition. - Any person operating a place of business where over-the-
counter weight loss supplements are sold or offered for sale is prohibited from selling such 
products to individuals under eighteen (18) years of age. 
SECTION 3. Sign. - Any person operating a place of business where over-the-counter 
weight loss supplements are sold or offered for sale shall post in a conspicuous place a sign upon 
which there shall be imprinted the following statement, "Sale of over-the-counter weight loss  
supplements to persons under eighteen years of age is prohibited by law." Such a sign shall be 
printed on a white card in red letters at least one-half inch in height. 
SECTION 4. Penalty. - Any person who violates section 2 and 3 of this Act shall be 
penalized with a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos (P 50,000.00) but not more than Two 
Hundred thousand Pesos (P 200,000,00). For succeeding offenses, the establishment shall be 
meted the penalty of revocation of license to operate a business. If the violation of any provisions 
of this Act is committed by a corporation, partnership, association or similar entity, the president, 
general manager or most senior officers shall be held liable for the offense. 
SECTION 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Health (DOH), 
in coordination with the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), shall promulgate the 
implementing rules and regulations of this Act within one hundred twenty (120) days after the 
passage of this Act.  
SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared to be 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby 
shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
11001


 
SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts 
thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified 
accordingly. 
 
SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,