SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B.No. 
2378 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
'14 
AUG 27 P 3 :44 
AMENDING ARTICLE 15 OF R.A. NO. 3720, ALSO KNOWN AS THE FOOD, 
DRUG AND COSMETIC ACT, REQUIRING THAT FOODS CONTAINING SPICES, 
-FLAVORING, OR COLORING DERIVED FROM MEAT, POULTRY OR OTHER 
ANIMAL PRODUCTS BEAR LABELING STATING THAT FACT 
AND THEIR NAMES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 15, provides: 
The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people 
and instill health consciousness among them. 
Millions of Filipinos follow certain dietary guidelines for health, religious, and 
cultural reasons. These individuals depend on ingredient labels for the information they 
need to abide by these guidelines. 
Under current regulations of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (Republic Act No. 
3720), food manufacturers are not required to identifY the products used in natural or 
artificial flavorings, colorings, or spices, or some food additives. These additives may 
contain derivatives of meat, poultry, and other animal products, such as insects. 
This bill ensures the consumer information on the nature or components of food 
flavorings, colorings, and additives will be 'supplied on food labels.! 
I This bill was originally filed as SBN 2! 08 during the Fourteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


" 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
) 
) 
) 
,I 
S. B. No. 
2378 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
'14 
AUG 27 P 3 :44 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
AN ACT 
2 
AMENDING ARTICLE 15 OF R.A. NO. 3720, ALSO KNOWN AS THE FOOD, 
3 
DRUG AND COSMETIC ACT, REQUIRING THAT FOODS CONTAINING SPICES, 
4 
FLAVORING, OR COLORING DERIVED FROM MEAT, POULTRY OR OTHER 
5 
ANIMAL PRODUCTS BEAR LABELING STATING THAT FACT 
6 
AND THEIR NAMES 
7 
SECTION 1. Article 15 of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act is hereby amended 
8 
to read as follows: 
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"Section 15. A food shall be deemed to be misbranded: 
10 
X X X 
11 
G. It if purports to be or is represented as a food for which a 
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definition and standard of identity has been prescribed unless (1) it 
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conforms to such definition and standard, and (2) its label bears the name of 
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the food specified in the definition and standard, and insofar as may be 
15 
required by such regulations, the common names of optional ingredients 
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(other than spices, flavoring, and coloring) present in such food, SUBJECT 
17 
TO PARAGRAPH (L). 
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H. If it purports to be or is represented as -
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I. If it is not subject to the provisions of paragraph (8) of this section 
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unless its label bears (1) the common or usual name of the food, if there be 
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any, and (2) in case it is fabricated from two or more ingredients, the 
2 


common or usual name of each such ingredient; except the spIces, 
2 
flavorings 
and 
colorings 
without 
naming 
each, 
SUBJECT 
TO 
3 
PARAGRAPH (L): Provided, That to the extent that compliance with the 
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requirements of clause (2) of this paragraph is impracticable or results in 
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deception or unfair competition, exemptions shall be established by 
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regulations promulgated by the Secretary. 
7 
xxx 
8 
L. IF IT CONTAINS ANY SPICE, FLAVORING, OR COLORING 
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DERIVED FROM MEAT, POULTRY, OR ANY OTHER ANIMAL 
10 
PRODUCT (INCLUDING INSECTS) UNLESS ITS LABELING BEARS 
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A STATEMENT WITH APPROPRIATE PROMINENCE ON THE 
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INFORMATION PANEL PROVIDING THAT FACT AND THE NAME 
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OF THE MEAT, POULTRY, OR OTHER ANIMAL PRODUCT, 
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RESPECTIVELY." 
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SECTION 2. Separability Clause. - If any provision, or part hereof, is held invalid 
16 
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the laws or the provision not otherwise affected 
17 
shall remain valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
19 
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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SECTION 4. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
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its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general publication. 
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Approved, 
/dpm 
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