SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF TI-IE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. B. No. 
2550 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
',) JAN -5 P 3 :54 
REQUIRING FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS TO COMPLY WITH SANITATION 
STANDARDS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Food safety, as defined by World Health Organization, pertains to "all 
conditions and measures that are necessary during the production, processing, storage, 
distribution and preparation of food to ensure that food is safe, sound, wholesome and fit 
for human consumption". Food is safe when it is free from biological, chemical or 
physical contaminant in amounts or levels that may represent a hazard to health. 
Food, however, can be contaminated biologically, chemically and physically 
through improper production, storage, handling, preparation and service. Harmful 
bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi 
(molds) cause biological or microbial 
contamination. 
These pathologic organisms may cause infection or intoxication. 
Chemical contamination occurs when substances such as cleaning compound, additives 
or pesticides get into food. Physical contamination occurs when hair, broken objects, 
metal shaving, dirt, etc., get into the food. 
Food should thus be kept clean at all stages - from production to consumption. It is 
therefore of paramount importance that food establishments bc required to observe 
sanitation standards in the procurement and preparation of food. The interest of the state 
is in protecting consumers who have no access nor control over the food they are served 
before they eat them. 


This bill seeks to promote food safety and protect the people's health by requiring 
food establishments to comply with the sanitation standards that the Secretary of Health 
shall promulgate within 60 days ii'om the passage ofthis bill into law.! 
~'- 4\:N-"-)~ 
MIRIAM DEF~SOR SANT'GO 
1r 
I This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, Third Regular Session. 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
) 
) 
) 
S. B. No. 
2550 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
JAN -5 P 3 :54 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
AN ACT 
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REQUIRING FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS TO COMPLY WITH SANITATION 
3 
STANDARDS 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Food Establishment 
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Sanitation Act of 20 14". 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote the 
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general welfare of the people. Pursuant to this policy, this Act requires food 
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establishments to comply with the sanitation standards that the Secretary of Health shall 
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promulgate. 
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SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term: 
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(A) 
"Commissary" means a central processing establishment where food is 
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prepared for sale or service offthe premises or by mobile vendor. 
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(B) 
(C) 
"Department" means the Department of Health. 
"Food" means: 
(1) articles used for food or drink for people or other animals, 
(2) articles used for components of any food or drink article, and 
(3) chewing gum. 
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(D) 
"Food business" means and includes any establishment or place, whether 
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fixed or mobile, where food or ice is held, processed, manufactured, packaged, 
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prepared, displayed, served, transported, or sold. 
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(E) 
"Food service establishment" means any fixed or mobile restaurant, coffee 
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shop, cafeteria, short-order cafe, luncheonette, grill, tearoom, sandwich shop, soda 
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fountain, tavern, bar, cocktail lounge, night club, roadside stand, industrial feeding 
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establishment, private, public or nonprofit organization or institution routinely serving 
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food, catering kitchen, commissary or similar place in which food or drink is prepared 
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for sale or for service on the premises or elsewhere, and any other eating or drinking 
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establishment or operation where food is served or provided for the public with or 
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without charge. 
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(F) 
"Mobile food service unit" means a unit that prepares and/or sells food 
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products for direct consumption. 
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(G) 
"Person" means any individual, firm, co-partnership, association, or private 
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or municipal corporation. 
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(H) 
"Processor" means one who combines, handles, manufactures or prepares, 
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packages, and stores food products. 
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(I) 
"Operator" in relation to food vending machines means any person who by 
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contract, agreement, lease, rental, or ownership sells food from vending machines. 
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(J) 
"Retail" means when eighty percent (80%) or more of sales are made 
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directly to consumers. 
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(K) 
"Retail peddler" means a food business which sells meat, seafood, and 
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dairy products directly to the consumer, house to house or in a neighborhood. 
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SECTION 4. Sanitary Regulations. - Within 60 days from the approval of this 
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Act, the Secretary of Health shall promulgate rules and regulations relating to sanitation 
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that he or she may deem advisable with reference to any food business and with reference 
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to the premises, property, equipment, and utensils used in connection with any food 
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business. 
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SECTION 5. Food Businesses Required to Comply. - No person shall operate 
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any food business except in compliance with the provisions of this Act and the 
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implementing rules and regulations adopted in accordance with this Act. 
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SECTION 6. Prohibition against Sale of Food Not Handled in Compliance with 
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Act; Confiscation. - No person shall sell or possess with intent to sell for human 
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consumption any food which has not been processed, transported, or sold in compliance 
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with the provisions of this Acts and the implementing rules and regulations adopted in 
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accordance with this Act. 
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Any food which the director shall have reasonable cause to believe has not been 
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processed, transported, or sold in compliance with the provisions of this Act and the 
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implementing rules and regulations adopted in accordance with this Act may be 
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confiscated. 
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SECTION 7. Notice to Cease Business. - Whenever the Secretary deems it 
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necessary in the interests of public health to cause any food business to cease operating, 
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he may do so by serving written notice upon the owner or manager of the food business; 
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Provided, that before the notice is given the owner 01' manager shall have been given an 
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opportunity to show cause why the food business should not cease operating. 
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Written notice to cease operating a food business shall remain in effect until the 
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Secretary serves further notice permitting the resumption of operation of the food 
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business. 
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SECTION 8. Penalties. -
Any food establishment found guilty of violating 
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Section 5 and 6 above shall be fined an amount not more than One Hundred Thousand 
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Pesos (PIOO,OOO.OO). 
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In addition, a penalty of imprisonment of arresto mayor may be imposed on the 
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entity's responsible officers, including, but not limited to, the president, vice-president, 
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chief executive ofticer, general manager, managing director or otllcer directly 
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responsible therefore, if any ofthem are found to have knowingly consented to such sale 
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or possession with intent to sell for human consumption any food which has not been 
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processed, transported, or sold in compliance with the provisions of this Act and the rules 
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and regulations adopted in accordance with this Act. 
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In both in cases, the court shall take into consideration all attending circumstances. 
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SECTION 9. Businesses Exempt. - The provisions of this Act shall not apply to 
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the following: 
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(A) 
Special events sponsored by city or town or nonprofit civic organizations 
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such as, but not limited to, school sporting events, picnics, food booths, church 
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suppers, and fairs; 
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(B) 
Temporary food services which have a frequency of less than six events a 
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year sueh as bazaars, bake sales, and suppers; 
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(C) 
Itinerant vendors and other food establishments that serve only 
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commercially pre-packaged foods, beverages, and eommercially precooked 
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potentially hazardous foods requiring no manual handling of the food product; 
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(D) 
Retail food businesses and food vending machines limited solely to selling 
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or dispensing ice and/or non-perishable foods, including, but not limited to, 
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gumballs, unopened bottled or canned beverages, and prepackaged candy, nuts, 
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gum, popcorn, chips, pretzels, cookies, alltl crackers; 
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SECTION 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision, or part hereof, is held 
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invalid or unconstitutional, the rcmainder of the law or the provision not otherwise 
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affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION II. 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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SECTION 12. Effectivity, - 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, 
I dpmDec20 14 
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