THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VELAR, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2 provides: 
Section 15. The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the 
people and instill health consciousness among them. 
Republic Act No. 7394, a.k.a. The "Consumer Act of the Philippines," was enacted to 
protect the interests of the consumer, promote his general welfare, and to establish standards of 
conduct for business and industry. Article 77 of this Act provides for the minimum labeling 
requirements for consumer products. 
Genetically engineering food is a new way of producing foods -- by taking DNA fiom one 
species and inserting it into another. Given the huge complexity of the genetic code, no one can 
possibly predict the effects of adding new genes into any organism or plant. It has been reported 
that one genetically engineered food supplement (tryptophan) has killed 37 North Americans and 
permanently disabled 1500. Many scientists feel that these foods have not been properly tested 
and pose serious health risks ("Genetically Engineered Food -- A Serious Health Risk," Friends 
of the Earth, http://www.foe,co.uk/campus/Foodbio). 
Consumers have a right to know whether the food they purchase contains or was 
produced with genetically engineered material. Thus, the bill seeks to require the labeling of 
food, meat, and poultry products that contains genetically engineered material. 
MANUEL B. ILLAR, JR. 
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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
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INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VELAR JR. 
AN ACT TO REQUIRE THAT FOOD, MEAT AND POULTRY PRODUCTS THAT 
CONTAIN A GENETICALLY ENGINEERED MATERIAL BE LABELED 
ACCORDINGLY 
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 "Genetically Engineered Food Right 
to Know Act." 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy -- The state shall enforced compulsory labeling and fair 
packaging to enable the consumer to obtain accurate information as to the nature, quality, and 
quantity of the contents of consumer products and to facilitate his comparison of the value of 
such products. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms -- As used in this Act: 
(A) "Genetically Engineered Material" means material derived from any part of a genetically 
engineered organism, without regard to whether the altered molecular or cellular characteristics 
of the organism are detectable in the material. 
(B) "Genetically Engineered Organism'' means-- an organism that has been altered at the 
molecular or cellular level by means that are not possible under natural conditions or processes 
(including but not limited to recombinant DNA and RNA techniques, cell fusion, 
microencapsulation, macroencapsulation, gene deletion and doubling, introducing a foreign gene, 
and changing the positions of genes), other than a means consisting exclusively of breeding, 
conjugation, fermentation, hybridization, in vitro fertilization, or tissue culture, and an organism 
made through sexual or asexual reproduction (or both) involving an organism described in 
subclause (l), if possessing any of the altered molecular or cellular characteristics of the 
organism so described. 
(C)"Meat Food" means a carcass, part of a carcass, meat, or meat food product that is derived 
from cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, or other equines and is capable of use as human 
food. 
SECTION 4. Labeling of Genetically Engineered Material. -- 
(1) In General- This labeling requirement shall apply to food, poultry, and meat whether 
manufactured locally or imported, if it contains a genetically engineered material, or was 


produced with a genetically engineered material, shall provide notices in accordance with the 
following: 
A notice as follows: "GENETICALLY ENGINEERED." 
(2) A notice as follows: "THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS A GENETICALLY ENGINEERED 
MATERIAL, OR WAS PRODUCED WITH A GENETICALLY ENGINEERED MATERIAL." 
(3) The notice required in clause (1) immediately precedes the notice required in clause (2) and is 
not less than twice the size of the notice required in clause (2). 
SECTION 5. Genetically Engineered Food.-- (A) In General -- a food shall be considered to 
have been produced with a genetically engineered material if-- 
(1) the organism from which the food is derived has been injected or otherwise treated with a 
genetically engineered material (except that the use of manure as a fertilizer for raw agricultural 
commodities may not be construed to mean that such commodities are produced with a 
genetically engineered material); 
(2) the animal from which the food is derived has been fed genetically engineered material, or 
(3) the food contains an ingredient that is a food to which clause (A) or (B) applies. 
(B) Exceptions -- This paragraph does not apply to food that-- 
(1) is served in restaurants or other establishments in which food is served for immediate human 
consumption, 
(2) is processed and prepared primarily in a retail establishment, is ready for human 
consumption, which is of the type described in clause (I), and is offered for sale to consumers 
but not for immediate human consumption is such establishment and is not offered for sale 
outside such establishment, or 
(3) is a medical food. 
I 
SECTION 6. Genetically Engineered Matevial.-- (A) In General-- A meat food shall be 
considered to have been produced with a genetically engineered material if-- 
(1) the organism from which the food is derived has been injected or otherwise treated with a 
genetically engineered material; 
, 
(2) the animal from which the food is derived has bee fed genetically engineered material; ir 
(3) the food contain\s an ingredient that is a food to which subparagraph (A) or (B) applies. 
(B) Exceptions- This paragraph does not apply to any meat food that-- 
(1) is served in restaurants or other establishments in which food is served for immediate human 
consumption; or 
(2) is processed and prepared primarily in a retail establishment, is ready for human 
consumption, is offered for sale to consumers but not for immediate human consumption is such 
establishment, and is not offered for sale outside such establishment. 
SECTION 7. Genetically Engineered Poultry Product.-- (A) In General -- a poultry product shall 
be considered to have been produced with a genetically engineered material if-- 
(1) the poultry from which the food is derived has been injected or otherwise treated with a 
genetically engineered material; 
(2) the poultry from which the1 food is derived has been fed genetically engineered material; or 
(3) the food contains an ingredient that is a food to which subparagraph (A) or (B) applies. 


(B) Exceptions-- This paragraph does not apply to any poultry product that-- 
(1) is served in restaurants or other establishments in which food is served for immediate human 
consumption; or 
(2) is processed and prepared primarily in a retail establishment, is ready for human 
consumption, is offered for sale to consumers but not for immediate human consumption is such 
establishments, and is not offered for sale outside such establishment. 
SECTION 8. Implementing Agencies -- The provisions of this Act and its implementing rules and 
regulations shall be enforced by: 
(A) the Department of Health with respect to food; and 
(B) the Department of Agriculture with respect to products related to agriculture. 
SECTION 9. Penalties -- Any persons who shall violate the provisions of this Act shall be 
subject to a fine not less than One thousand pesos (1,000,OO) but not more than Twenty thousand 
pesos (P20,000.00)or imprisonment of not less than three months but not more than two years or 
both, at the discretion of the court. 
SECTION 10. Separability Clause -- If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 11. Repealing Clause -- Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, 
letter of instruction. administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the 
provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 12. Effectivity Clause -- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,