13th CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC , )  
JUL -6 Al 57 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Ralph G. Recto 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to amend Article 77 of RA 7394, otherwise known as 
"Consumer Act of the Philippinbs." by requiring the inclusion of fiber content 
information in the labeling of textile products. 
More often than not, garments exported abroad conform to international 
standards of labeling textile products that require, among others, the disclosure 
of fiber content. But clothes sold locally are not subject to such labeling 
standards that Filipino consumers are left with less information when choosing 
what items to buy. They even have the tendency to base their decision 
principally on the name of the manufacturer which is not exactly a good 
barometer for the soundness and price of a product. Worse, a big chunk of 
locally sold clothing does not carry any label at all. 
Rapid changes in the textile industry have produced various fibers and 
fabrics in the marketplace that choosing the right items becomes a tedious 
process to a discriminating consumer. It can be downright confusing if one 
doesn't have all the facts needed to make a good choice. Without the fiber 
content in the label, a consumer allergic to polyester for instance would not 
know that he/she is buying an item hazardous to his/her health. 
This bill protects the Filipino consumer from mislabeling of fiber content on 
textile products and from misleading advertising by manufacturers. It upholds 
fhe philosophy of "value for money" for the buying individual and the 
democratic principle of "freedom of choice." 
Learning about fabrics and fiber families will help the consumer make 
The composition of textile products will generally 
better buying decisions. 
determine how the product should be used and cared for. 
The proposed measure requires that the fiber content label shall: 
(a) Identify the fiber by generic name (the name of the family of fibers 
with similar chemical composition or origin), and 
(b) Give the percentage by weight of each kind of fiber in the item in 
amounts of five (5) percent or more, except when fibers have a 
definite functional significance such as, but n 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approv 


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ijf;iC,: 
01 :tih IEtXETARY 
1 .  
13th CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
1 
I 
'04 
JUL -6 
\EL 157 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Firsf Regular Session 
1 
i 0 ? CEIVED 3)' : __ t 
SENATE 
S. BILL NO. 
Introduced by Senator Ralph G. Recto 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING THE INCLUSION OF FIBER CONTENT INFORMATION IN THE 
LABELING OF TEXTILE PRODUCTS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC 
ACT 7394, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE CONSUMER ACT OF THE PHILIPPINES, 
AS AMENDED 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 
1. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of 
the State to protect the interest of the consumer, promote his general 
welfare and to establish standards of conduct for business and industry. To 
this end, the State shall therefore, enforce mandatory labeling to enable 
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consumers to obtain accurate information to facilitate sound choice and 
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protect them against hazards to health and safety. 
SEC. 2. Mandatory Fiber Content Labeling of Textile Products. Article 
77 of Republic Act No. 7394, otherwise known as the "Consumer Act of 
the Philippines," as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
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"Art. 77. Minimum Labeling Requirements for Consumer 
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Products. 
All consumer products domestically sold whether 
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manufactured locally or imported shall indicate the following in 
their respective labels of packaging: 
"(a) its correct and registered trade name or brand name; 
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"(b) its duly registered trademark; 
"(c) its duly registered business name; 
"(d) the address of the manufacturer, importer, repacker of 
the consumer product in the Philippines; 
"(e) its general make or active ingredients: PROVIDED, THAT 
IN THE CASE OF TEXTILE FIBER PRODUCTS, IT SHALL BEAR A 
FIBER CONTENT LABEL WHICH SHALL: 
(I) 
IDENTIFY THE FIBER BY GENERIC NAME (THE NAME 
OF 
THE 
FAMILY 
OF 
FIBERS 
WITH 
SIMILAR 
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OR ORIGIN), AND 
GIVE THE PERCENTAGE BY WEIGHT OF EACH KIND 
OF FIBER IN THE ITEM IN AMOUNTS OF FIVE (5) 
PERCENT OR MORE, EXCEPT WHEN FIBERS HAVE A 
. DEFINITE FUNCTIONAL SIGNIFICANCE SUCH AS, 
(11) 
BUT NOT LIMITED TO, SPANDEX. 
"(f) the net quality of contents, in terms of weight, measure or 
numerical count rounded of to at least the nearest 
tenths in the metric system; 
"(g) country of manufacture, if imported; and 
"(h) if a consumer product is manufactured, refilled or 
repacked under license from a principal, the label shall 
so state the fact." 
" X  x 
x 
" X  x 
x 
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SEC. 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Secretary of 
Department of Trade and Industry, in consultation with the concerned 
business and industry representatives, government agencies, and civil 
society organizations shall promulgate the necessary regulations for the 
effective implementation of this Act. 
SEC. 4. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act or the 
application thereof to any person circumstances be held invalid, the 
remaining provisions of this Act and the application of such provisions to 
other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby. 
SEC. 5. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect after fifteen (1 5) 
days from its publication in the Official Gazette and in newspaper of 
general circulation. 
Approved, 
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