HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

Republic of the Philippines f > REC 1 wy
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Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO.3972 _

Introduced by Honorable Doy C. Leachon

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to require food service establishments to disclose and display
the nutritional content information of food offered on their menus and menu
boards.

The Philippines is one of the 23 selected developing countries contributing
to around 80% of the total mortality burden attributed to chronic disease, and 50%
of the total disease burden caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
worldwide. Data show that the major NCDs are cardiovascular disease, cancer,
diabetes mellitus and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. These diseases are
linked to four common preventable risk factors related to lifestyle, namely:
unhealthy diet, tobacco use, physical inactivity and alcohol use.

A person who is overweight or obese is more likely to acquire a number of
chronic diseases. A factor that brings about obesity in the country is attributed to
the proliferation of food service establishments that offer food that is easily
available, tasty and inexpensive. Most people who eat in these establishments tend
to consume more food high in fats, sugar and sodium content and less of the
healthier and more nutritious food. This is because most people are generally not
informed of the calorie and nutritional content of the food they eat which leads to a
pattern of unhealthy eating that eventually causes obesity and myriad of health
problems.

Providing consumers the specific data and information regarding the amount
of calories and other nutritional information on food labels is an important public
health tool to promote a balanced diet and enhancing public health. The


information will assist consumers to better understand the nutritional value of food.
It will also enable consumers to compare the nutritional value of similar food
products and make healthy food choices based on the relevant nutrition
information.

Requiring the food service establishments to disclose and display the
nutritional content information of food on the menus and menu boards will also
help minimize the health hazards of over consumption of calories that ruin the
health of Filipinos.

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

DOY YLEACHON


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3972

Introduced by Honorable Doy C. Leachon

AN ACT
REQUIRING FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS TO DISCLOSE AND
DISPLAY THE NUTRITIONAL CONTENT INFORMATION OF FOOD ON
THEIR MENUS AND MENU BOARDS.

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 “Food Nutrition
Information Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. —\t is hereby declared the policy of the State
to protect and promote the right of the people to good health. Towards this end, the
State hereby mandates all food service establishments to disclose and display the
nutritional content information of food on the menus and menu boards to help
Filipinos make healthier food choices and reduce the hazards of over-consumption
of calories that ruin the health of Filipinos.

SEC. 3. Definition of terms. — As used in this Act:


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a) Food service establishment refers to all types of chain restaurants
which include fast food, casual dining, fine dining, buffet-style, café or bistro,
cafeteria and sit-down restaurant, including food services that receive orders
mostly by phone or online in ten (10) or more locations, doing business under the
same name, regardless of its type of ownership, and selling substantially the same
standard menu items and portion servings;

b) Food item refers to a unit serving of a ready-to-eat food or beverage
for sale at a food service establishment;

c)  Food-on-display refers to food offered for sale that is visible to a
customer before making a selection, and needs no further preparation before
consumption;

d) = Menu or menu board refers to any listing of items which the food
service establishment designates as the primary listing from which customers make
a selection in placing an order;

©) Standard menu item refers to the food the recipe of which is prepared
in substantially the same way with the same food component that is routinely
included on a menu or menu board, or routinely offered as food-on-display or self-

service food for sale by a food service establishment; and

f) — Self-service food refers to food and beverages that the consumers


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serve themselves, including food offered for sale at a salad bar, buffet line,
cafeteria line, or similar self-service facility.

SEC. 4. Disclosure of Nutrition Information. — All food service
establishments nationwide are hereby required to disclose and display the
nutritional content information of each standard menu item on their menus and
menu boards as sold to the public. For food service establishments offering self-
service food and food-on-display, the nutritional content information per item or
serving shall be posted on a sign adjacent to such food.

SEC. 5. Nutrition Content Information. — All menu or menu boards in all
food service establishments shall contain the nutrition information indicating the
amount of each of the following:

a) Total fat;

b) Saturated fat;

c) Cholesterol;

d) Sodium;

e) Total carbohydrates;

f) Complex carbohydrates;
g) Sugars;

h) Dietary fiber; and

i) Total protein.


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SEC. 6. Calorie Content. — The calorie content values (in kilo calories) and
nutrient required by this section shall be based upon a verifiable analysis of the
menu item, which may include the use of nutrient databases, laboratory testing, or
other reliable methods of analysis, and shall be rounded to the nearest ten (10)
calories for calorie content values above 50 calories and to the nearest five (5)
calories for content values 50 calories and below.

SEC. 7. Online Food Service. — Food service establishments where the
majority of orders are placed online or by phone shall provide the required
information through a menu or menu board uploaded on the internet.

SEC. 8. Community Framework Plan—The Food and Drugs Administration
(FDA) shall formulate and design a community framework plan which shall serve
as a guideline in providing the nutritional content information. Local government
unit shall implement the framework plan by requiring all food service
establishments to apply for and secure, as an additional requirement for their
operation, within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, a Nutrition
Disclosure Compliance Certificate (NDCC). The NDCC issued by the FDA shall
be valid for five (5) years from the date of issue and may be renewed at least thirty
(30) days before its expiration. The FDA may refuse to renew the NDCC of the
food service establishment found to be in violation of this Act.

The failure of any food service establishment to secure a Nutrition


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Disclosure Compliance Certificate shall be a ground for the suspension or
revocation of its license to operate.

The local chief executives of each LGU shall ensure that the community
framework plan is effectively implemented in their respective locality.

SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days
from the effectivity of this Act, the Director General of the Food and Drugs
Administration shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation
contrary to or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed,
modified, or amended accordingly.

SEC. 11. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (1S) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national
newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,