'., 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 2602 
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(o)!! .. o of !q.~,"'br~ 
'10 
NOV 18 Pl :59 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 13, Section 12 provides: 
The State shall establish and maintain an effective food and drug 
regulatory system and undertake appropriate health manpower development and 
research, responsive to the country's health needs and problems. 
In 2005, 35 million people died as a result of chronic diseases. This is 60% of the total 
number of deaths in that year. 
Out of all deaths from chronic diseases, 30% were due to 
cardiovascular disease (CVD). We know that 80% of heart disease, stroke, and type-2 diabetes 
and 40% of cancer can be prevented through cheap and cost-effective means. l In the WHO 
, 
World Health Report 2002, it is estimated that globally 62% of cerebrovascular disease and 49% 
of ischaemic (reduced blood supply) heart disease were caused by high blood pressure. Heart 
diseases are the primary cause of death for persons over 60 years of age and the second cause of 
death for persons aged 15-59 years, The report reviews strategies to reduce the risks associated 
with CVD and states that in all settings population-wide salt reduction strategies were the most 
cost-effective.2 
Finland showed that salt reduction in products can actually lead to a reduction in sodium 
excretion levels and to a corresponding drop in blood pressure levels.3 This shows that salt 
reduction initiatives can be effective in reducing cardiovascular diseases. In the UK, the 
initiation of the Salt Campaign took place after the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition 
(SACN) published its report, "Salt and Health," in 2003. The main conclusion from this report 
I WHO Report, 2005. 
2 Reducing Salt Intake in Populations, Report of a WHO Forum and Technical meeting 5-7 October 2006, Paris, 
France. 
3 Collated Information on Salt Reduction in the EU, Compiled by the European Commission, April200S. 
1 


was that there was a link between high salt intake and high blood pressure and that a reduction in 
the average salt intake of the population would proportionally lower population blood pressure 
levels. The reduction in salt intake would lead to significant health benefits due to reduced risk 
of cardiovascular disease. SACN recommended that the average salt intake should be reduced 
from 9.5 g/d to 6 g/d, with lower levels recommended for children.4 
There is conclusive scientific evidence of tbe adverse effect of excessive dietary salt 
consumption on health, particularly on blood pressure, leading to cardiovascular disease, gastric 
cancer, osteoporosis, cataracts, kidney stones, and diabetes.s Current recommendations indicate 
that in order to prevent chronic diseases, tbe population average consumption of salt should be < 
5 g/day « 2 g/day ofsodium).6 According to current data, salt consumption levels of populations 
in most countries are significantly higher tban these recommendations. 
Population-wide strategies for sodium reduction are estimated to be more cost effective 
than traditional hypertension control programs in almost all settings. There is thus a need to give 
priority to the implementation of a national strategy aimed at the reduction of dietary salt 
consumption. An interdisciplinary, integrated, multi-stakeholder, holistic approach should be 
followed in the policy development and implementation of this goal. Policies aimed at salt 
restriction must be socially inclusive and participatory. All social classes and sectors need to be 
specifically targeted, particularly the most vulnerable and poor. This Bill considers interventions 
in several settings, targeting different population groups, and partnerships between different 
stakeholders to develop and implement effective intervention mechanisms. 
4 http://www.sacn.goy.uklpdfs/sacn_salt_final.pdf 
5 Cappuccio & MacGregor, 1997; Cappuccio et aI., 2000. 
6 WHO Report 1983; WHO Report 2003. 
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6JIi .MIRIAM DEF~NSOR s~mfUo 
2 


,fo etlZltr 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
(fI(f". of t~.~mofnru 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'10 
NOV 18 P 1 :59 
I 
AN ACT 
2 
TO REGULATE THE SALT INTAKE OF CONSUMERS BY PROVIDING 
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ALTERNATIVES TO THE CONVENTIONAL USE OF SALT, REQUIRING STRICT 
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LABELLING STANDARDS, CONSUMER EDUCATION AND INITIATING 
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PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE FOOD INDUSTRY 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Salt Intake Regulation Act of 
7 
2010." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to establish and 
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maintain an effective food and drug regulatory system and undertake appropriate health 
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manpower development and research responsive to the country's health needs and problems. 
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It is also the policy of the State to protect and promote the right to health of the people 
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and instil health consciousness among them. 
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SECTION 3. Commission on Acceptable Levels of Salt Intake. - There is hereby created 
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a Commission to research on the acceptable levels of salt intake for the population to be 
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composed of three experts from the medical community, two representatives from the food 
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industry, and one representative each from the Secretary of Health and the Secretary of Trade 
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and Industry. They shall be appointed by the President for a non-extendible period of one (I) 
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year. They shall elect their chairperson and will serve for a period of one (1) year. They shall 
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submit their report to the Secretary of Health and the Secretary of Trade and Industry and such 
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report shall serve as the basis in drafting the Implementing Rules and Regulations of this Act. 
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They shall receive inputs from the following sectors: 
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(a) 
Public Sector: 
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1 
(1) 
Department of Health and the Department of Trade and Industry; 
2 
(2) 
Bureau of Food and Drugs; 
3 
(3) 
Department of Education - interventions in schools and universities, 
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research (universities and scientific leadership), academia; 
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(4) 
Department of Science and Technology; 
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(5) 
Public Information Agency; 
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(6) 
Local Government Units; 
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(7) 
Universities and Hospitals. 
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(b) 
Private sector: 
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(1) 
Food and non-alcoholic beverage producers; 
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(2) 
Spices, condiments, sauces and food preservatives producers; 
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(3) 
Catering industry; 
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(4) 
Restaurants and bars; 
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(5) 
Special interest groups (industry groups, business, trade organizations); 
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(6) 
Apex organizations of commercial groups, commercial sector 
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organizations; 
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(7) 
Salt producers and miners; 
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(8) 
Retailers; 
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(9) 
Advertising industry; 
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(10) 
Other vendors; 
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(11) 
Private schools and hospitals administrations; 
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(12) 
Media and the press. 
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(c) 
NGOs/ Civil Society: 
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(1) 
Community groups (including women, cultural, and religious groups); 
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(2) 
Consumer groups; 
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(3) 
Health promotion organizations; 
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(4) 
Food safety organizations; 
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(5) 
Health professional societies/ associations; 
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(6) 
Education organizations; 
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(7) 
(8) 
Parent-teacher associations; 
Micronutrient interest groups. 
SECTION 4. Labeling Requirements. - The Secretary of Health and the Secretary of 
Trade and Industry shall develop and implement compulsory nutritional labeling policies on 
manufactured food products, including information on the salt/sodium content. The nutrition 
label format and its placement on the product must be according to the format proven to be most 
helpful and easy to read by the majority of the consumers. Restaurants, caterers, and. other meal 
producers/distributors should provide nutritional information about the meals, including 
information on salt content. This shall include companies/caterers/food providers for school and 
worksite canteens. 
SECTION 5. Product Reformulation. -
The following principles should serve as 
guidelines for the food industry: 
(a) 
Food producers are encouraged to reduce or remove completely, whenever 
possible and appropriate, the salt content of their foods products particularly those from 
processed food products. 
(b) 
Food producers and food distributors (catering companies, restaurants, schools 
17 
and worksite canteens, etc) are asked to voluntarily take the initiative to reduce the salt content 
18 
of their food products/meals to the lowest salt content possible. Their action should be in line 
19 
with the national goals and monitored by the appropriate governmental health agencies. 
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(c) 
National standards need to be developed specifically for restaurant or meal 
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producers/distributors to ensure compliance of served meals with national dietary 
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recommendations. This is particularly critical for those companies/caterers/food providers for 
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school and worksite canteens. 
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SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of Health and the 
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Secretary of Trade and Industry shall come up with the Implementing Rules and Regulations for 
26 
the implementation of this Act within two (2) year from its approval. 
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SECTION 7. Standards in Drafting the Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The 
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following should be taken into account in drafting the Implementing Rules and Regulations: 
29 
(a) 
Identify and monitor the main food products for targeting salt reduction; 
3 


1 
(b) 
Increase public awareness of sodium levels in available food products; 
2 
(c) 
Increase awareness among food producers of the high salt content of their 
3 
products; 
4 
(d) 
Encourage food producers to contribute in a meaningful way to the 
5 
implementation ofthe national goal for the reduction of dietary salt intake; 
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(e) 
Target major food producers or trade organizations to standardize the sodium 
content offood products that are distributed locally and internationally; 
(f) 
Alternatives to the use of salt fortified with micronutrients such as iodine or 
fluoride need to be urgently explored; 
(g) 
Enforce clear mechanisms to monitor the food producers activities' related to the 
II 
salt composition of food products. 
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SECTION 8. Report to Congress. - Within five (5) years from the approval of this Act, 
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the Secretary of Health and the Secretary of Trade and Industry shall submit a joint report to 
14 
Congress on the implementation of this Act. 
15 
SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
16 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
17 
valid and SUbsisting. 
18 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
19 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
20 
with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 11. 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. 
Approved, 
4