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Quezon City, Philippines ig wwe OL UL 203.

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

454

HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY HON. MARCELINO “MARCY” R. TEODORO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article Il, Section 15 of the Constitution states that “the State shall protect and
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.”

To create consciousness of the importance of healthy eating habits and
eventually healthy lifestyle, it is very important to know the nutritional content of the
foods people are eating, especially those from fast-food chains. People suffering from
certain diseases must be informed of the nutritional components of the food they eat,
otherwise, they would be putting themselves at greater risk without them knowing it

Restaurants and fast-food. chains should be responsible in presenting and
preparing their food. And they should be obliged to put nutrition labels, just a small price
to pay necessary in promoting the good health of the community and the country in
general. Presently, however, there is no law requiring all restaurant and food
establishment operators to indicate the nutritional value of the foods they offer.

This bill seeks to promote health awareness among the public by requiring
concemed entities to provide for nutrition labels of food products.

Thus, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
IARCELINO “MARCY” R. TEODORO

Representative
4 District, City of Marikina



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

‘SIXTEENTH CONGRESS.
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNo.__ 454

INTRODUCED BY HON. MARCELINO “MARCY” R. TEODORO

Be AN ACT
REQUIRING MANUFACTURERS, PACKERS AND DISTRIBUTORS OF FOOD
PRODUCTS, AND RESTAURANT AND FAST-FOOD CHAIN OPERATORS TO
SPECIFY IN THEIR RESPECTIVE FOOD LABELS, PACKAGES OR
CONTAINERS THE NUTRITION INFORMATION OF EACH PRODUCT
AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7394,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “CONSUMER ACT OF THE PHILIPPINES”

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Article 4 of Republic Act No. 7394 otherwise known as the Consumer Act of
the Philippines is hereby amended to read, as follows:

“Article 4. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the term:

XXX)

ag) “Food” means any substance, whether processed, semi-processed or raw,
intended for human consumption and includes chewing gum, drinks and beverages and
any substance which has been used as an ingredient or a component in the
manufacture, preparation or treatment of food. THE TERM ALSO MEANS ANY
MATERIAL USUALLY OF PLANT OR ANIMAL ORIGIN, CONTAINING OR
CONSISTING OF ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS THAT MUST BE TAKEN IN OR
ASSIMILATED BY A PERSON AS NOURISHMENT TO MAINTAIN LIFE AND
GROWTH.

IT ALSO INCLUDES THOSE BEING PROCESSED, DISTRIBUTED AND
OFFERED IN PACKAGE OR CONTAINER, AS WELL AS THOSE FOOD PRODUCTS
NOT CONTAINED IN DISPOSABLE PACKAGE OR CONTAINER.

XXX.

bn) “Seller” means a person engaged in the business of selling consumer
products directly to consumers [.] SUCH AS, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, RESTAURANTS
AND FASTFOOD ESTABLISHMENTS. It shalll include a supplier or distributor if (1) the
seller is a subsidiary or affiliate of the supplier or distributor; (2) the seller interchanges
personnel or maintains common or overlapping officers or directors with the supplier or
distributor; or (3) the supplier or distributor provides or exercises supervision, direction or
control over the selling practices of the seller.

XXX.

by) “RESTAURANT” MEANS ANY PLACE WHERE MEALS CAN BE BOUGHT
AND EATEN.


bz) “FAST-FOOD CHAIN” MEANS ANY FOOD ESTABLISHMENT OFFERING
FOOD SUCH AS HAMBURGERS, KEBABS, PIZZAS, ETC., USUALLY PREPARED
AND SERVED QUICKLY.”

SEC. 2. Article 76 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Article 76. Prohibited Acts on Labeling and Packaging. — It shall be unlawful for
any person, either as principal or agent, engaged in the labeling and packaging of any
consumer product, to display or distribute or to cause to be displayed or distributed in
commerce any consumer product whose package or label does not conform to the
provisions of this Chapter. -

The prohibition in this Chapter shall [not] apply to persons engaged in the
business of wholesale or retail. distributors of consumer products [except to the extent
that] INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO such persons WHO:

a) are engaged in the packaging or labeling of such products;

b) prescribe or specify by any means the manner in which such products are
packaged or labeled; or

©) having knowledge, refuse to disclose the source of the mislabeled or
mispackaged products.”

SEC. 3. Article 84 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:

“article 84. Additional Labeling Requirements for Food. — The following additional
labeling requirements shall be imposed by the concemed department for food:

a) expiry or expiration date, where applicable;
b) whether the consumer product is semi-processed, fully processed, ready-to-
cook, ready-to-eat, prepared food or just plain mixture;

¢) nutritive value, [if any;] WHICH SHALL CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING:

(1) NUMBER OF SERVINGS OR OTHER UNITS OF MEASURE PER
CONTAINERS;

(2) THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CALORIES DERIVED FROM ANY SOURCE,
AND DERIVED FROM THE TOTAL FATS; AND

(3) THE AMOUNT OF THE FOLLOWING NUTRIENTS IN EACH SERVING
SIZE OR OTHER UNIT OF MEASUREMENT OF THE FOOD:

(a) TOTAL FAT;

(b) SATURATED FAT;

(©) CHOLESTEROL;

(@) SODIUM;

(e) TOTAL CARBOHYDRATES;

(f) COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATES;
(g) SUGARS;

(h) DIETARY FIBER; AND.

(i) TOTAL PROTEIN

(4) ANY VITAMIN, MINERAL, OR OTHER NUTRIENT REQUIRED TO BE
PLACED ON THE LABEL OR LABELING OF FOOD IF IT IS DETERMINED
THAT SUCH INFORMATION WILL ASSIST CONSUMERS IN MAINTAINING
HEALTHY DIETARY PRACTICES.

d) whether the ingredients used are natural or synthetic, as the case may be;
e) such other labeling requirements as the concemed department may deem
necessary and reasonable.”

SEC. 4. Article 85 of the same Act is hereby amended to read, as follows:


XXX.

m) FOODS OR FOOD PRODUCTS OFFERED BY RESTAURANTS AND FAST-
FOOD CHAINS SHALL LIKEWISE CONFORM WITH THE FOREGOING
REGULATIONS;

n) IN CASE OF FOODS NOT CONTAINED IN ANY DISPOSABLE PACKAGE
OR CONTAINER, RESTAURANT OPERATORS MUST PROVIDE CUSTOMERS WITH
A FLYER OR LEAFLET CONTAINING THE PRESCRIBED NUTRITIONAL
INFORMATION, WHEN REQUESTED ACCORDINGLY.”

SEC. 5. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
Publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,