SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 
303 
Introduced by SENATOR CYNTHIA VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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Consumption of bottled water has extensively increased in recent years, with 
thousands of households currently consuming bottled drinking water as their source qf 
drinking water. Consumers are paying premium prices for bottled water based on the 
assumption that it is safe and of superior quality compared to their tap water, the latter 
having been discerned as no longer potable. 
, Because of the demand for bottled water, we saw the proliferation of companies 
selling bottled water or refill stations selling "safe" potable water in various sizes of 
plastic containers. While these companies abound in our urban areas and even in a 
goctlnumber of our rural areas, it is alarming to note that to date the bottled water 
business is left unregulated and these companies have yet to subscribe to a set of 
standards mandated by the government. This is a cause of concern, as in the absence 
of a regUlation, there is a possibility that the bottled water sold in the market could 
likewise be unsafe. 
The attached bill seeks to establish quality standards for mineral and carbonated 
water. This bill is very much in line with the state policy that calls "to protect consumers 
from trade malpractices and from substandard or hazardous products" as enunciated 
under Section 9, Article 16 of our Philippine Constitution. 
Considering the foregoing, I recommend the approval ofthis bill. 
~~.~~ 


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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
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'13 
JUL -2 
,1\ 9 :50 
SENATE 
303 
S.B. No. ___ _ 
Introduced by Senator Cynthia A Villar 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING QUALITY STANDARDS FOR MINERAL WATER AND 
CARBONATED WATER 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
1 
SECTION 1. Short title- This Act shall be known as the "Safe Bottled Water Act 
2 
of 2013. " 
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SEC. 2. Statement of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and promote 
5 
the health of the people. Towards this end, it shall ensure that potable, safe and 
6 
affordable drinking water is available to all the people by adopting a comprehensive 
7 
policy framework to regulate the activities of mineral, carbonated and other bottled 
8 
water businesses including suppliers, distributors and sellers thereof. 
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10 
SEC. 3. Quality Standards for Bottled Water. -
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(a) 
The interim or revised national primary drinking water regulations 
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concerning maximum contaminant levels promulgated by the Director of the Food and 
14 
Drugs Administration (FDA) shall be applicable to all kinds of bottled drinking water, 
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including mineral, spring, natural sparkling and vended water. 
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(b) 
Within twelve (12) months after the date of the effectivity of this Act, the 
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Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) shall establish quality standards and 
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definitions for mineral water and carbonated water which shall include: 
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(1) 
Limits for total dissolved solids, sulfate, sodium and trihalomethane 
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content; and 
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(2) 
As determined by established health-based drinking water 
25 
standards. 
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27 
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1 
SEC. 4. 
Source Protection. - Within twelve (12) months after the date of the 
2 
effectivity of this Act, the Director of the FDA shall: 
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4 
5 
(a) 
Identify safe sources of bottled water; and 
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(b) 
Establish criteria to determine the adequacy as well as the protection of 
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"approved sources" of bottled water including, but not limited to: 
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9 
(1) 
Minimum construction standards for water wells; 
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(2) 
Minimum distance separation from upstream wastewater discharges; and 
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(3) 
Minimum distance separation from abandoned wells, septic tanks, waste 
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impoundment and landfills. 
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16 
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SEC. 5. Monitoring, Reporting and Inspection. - Within twelve (12) months after 
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the date of the effectivity of this Act, the Director of the FDA shall: 
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(a) 
Establish a bottled water monitoring program which, at a minimum, shall: 
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(1) 
Be as stringent as that used for public water supplies and which 
provides for yearly testing and monitoring for unregulated contaminants for 
which public water utilities must test; and 
(2) 
Require that any analysis or testing be performed in an approved 
and certified laboratory. 
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(b) 
Establish a bottled water reporting program that shall: 
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(1) 
Stipulate time tables and procedures for timely reporting; 
(2) 
Provide public notification procedures should any bottled water be 
found to be in excess of health-based standards; 
(3) 
Establish a national registry of bottled water facilities and their most 
current reporting information; and 
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(4) 
Require that records of sampling and analysis be maintained at the 
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plant for not less than two (2) years and shall be available for official 
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review upon request. 
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(c) 
Establish a bottled water facility inspection program which includes, at a 
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minimum, two (2) scheduled inspections a year and one (1) unscheduled inspection a 
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year. 
z 


1 
SEC. 6. 
Recall Regulations. -
Within six (6) months after the date of the 
2 
effectivity of this Act, the Director of the FDA shall: 
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4 
(a) 
Establish procedures and public notification guidelines for recall of a 
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bottled water product which fall below any health-based standard; and 
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(b) 
Require each bottled water manufacturer to develop and submit individual 
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recall notification and recall procedures. 
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SEC. 7. Prohibition of Dual Use of Bottled Water Equipment. -
Within twelve 
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(12) months after the date of the effectivity of this Act, the Director of the FDA shall 
12 
prohibit the processing and bottling of noncarbonated water with equipment used to 
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process milk, fruit juice or other food products likely to contribute nutrients for 
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microbiological growth. 
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SEC. 8. Bottling, Packaging and Storage Study .. - The Director of the FDA shall 
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conduct a comprehensive study of contaminants and the extent to which they contribute 
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to the degradation of bottled water from the unique processing and storage of bottled 
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water. The Director shall pay particular attention to contamination problems which may 
20 
arise from the bottling, packaging or storage of bottled water products. 
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SEC. 9. Labeling. - Within six (6) months after the date of the enactment of this 
23 
Act, the Secretary of the DOH shall: 
2.4 
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(a) 
Establish and enforce clear, concise, and uncoded uniform source labeling 
2.6 
requirements for all bottled water products which, at a minimum, includes: 
2.7 
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(1) 
The original source of the water; 
(2) Type of water; 
(3) 
Type of treatment, if any; 
(4) The date of bottling; 
(5) The address of the bottler; and 
(6) 
Provide numerical specification of sodium content. 
35 
(b) 
Define mineral water, spring water, naturally carbonated, naturally 
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sparkling, well water, natural well water, artesian water, natural artesian water, purified 
37 
water, distilled water, drinking water and all other variants of bottled water existing in the 
38 
market, and require that the definition for the appropriate product be placed on the 
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bottle. 
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SEC. 10. 
Appropriations. -
The initial amount necessary to implement the 
42. 
provisions of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations ofthe 
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FDA under the DOH. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued 
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implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
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3 


1 
SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations (lRR). - The DOH shall issue the 
2 
IRR for this Act within one hundred twenty (120) days from its effectivity. 
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SEC. 12. Separability Clause. -
If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
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remain valid or subsisting. 
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SEC. 13. 
Repealing Clause. 
-
Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
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executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to 
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or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
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accordingly. 
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SEC. 14. Effectivity Clause. -
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
4