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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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of tl!C
23 M 26 W1 50
SENATE
S. No. 1785
Introduced by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go
AN ACT
REQUIRING THE USE OF STANDARDIZED DATE LABELS ON CONSUMER 
PRODUCTS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7394 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "CONSUMER ACT OF THE PHILIPPINES'"
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Republic Act No. 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines provides that it 
is the policy of the State to protect the interest of the consumer, promote general 
welfare and to establish standards of conduct for business and industry. The objectives 
of this Act are all focused on the welfare, protection and rights of all the consumer in 
the Philippines.
Most of the food and drug products that Filipinos consume are not packaged 
with standard labels. The existing measures are not sufficient to provide a uniform or 
standard format on how food labels should be presented on the packaging. Hence, it 
is therefore appropriate to distinctly provide when the product was manufactured, 
when it becomes unsafe to consume, and when it is at peak quality.
This proposed measure seeks to provide a standard printed display with the 
use of the following phrases on the consumer and drug products: "manufacturing 
date," "expiration date," and whenever applicable, the "best before date." Likewise, 
the bill disallows the use of other phrases such as "use-by," "consumer before," and 
"best if used by."


The bill also provides that the text of the date must be printed in single easy- 
to-read type style using upper and lower-case letters in the standard form. The text 
of the date must be located in a conspicuous place on the packaging of the product 
and printed clearly and legibly on the label in the following order: month, day and 
year. To avoid confusion, the day and the year must be written in figures while the 
month must be written in words.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly
sought.
SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO


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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
of tl)f fecfrotary
23 JAN 26 All SO
SENATE 
S. No. 1
Introduced by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go
AN ACT
REQUIRING THE USE OF STANDARDIZED DATE LABELS ON CONSUMER 
PRODUCTS, AMENDING FOR THE 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 Phiiippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. This Act shall be known as the "Standardization of Date Labels Act of 2023."
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Sec. 2. Article 76 of Republic Act No. 7394, otherwise known as the " Consumer Act of
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the Philippine^' is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Art 76. Prohibited Act on Labeling and Packaging - It shall be unlawful 
for any person, either as principal or agent, engaged in the SALE, 
DISTRIBUTION, MANUFACTURER labeling or packaging of any consumer 
product, to display, SELL or distribute or to cause to be displayed, SOLD or 
distributed in commerce any consumer product whose package or label does 
not conform to the provisions of this chapter.
ALL CONSUMER PRODUCTS THAT DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE DATE 
LABEL REQUIREMENTS AS PROVIDED IN THIS ACT SHALL NOT BE 
SOLD OR DISTRIBUTED IN THE MARKET AFTER JANUARY 1, 2024.
The prohibition in this chapter shall not apply to persons engaged in the 
business of wholesale or retail distributors of consumer products OR


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The prohibition in this chapter shall not apply to persons engaged in the 
business of wholesale or retail distributors of consumer products OR
CONSUMER PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY 
AND DIRECTLY SHIPPED FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO CONSUMER 
BY MAIL OR OTHER DELIVERY SERVICE except to the extent that such 
persons:
(1) are engaged in the packaging or labeling of such
(2) prescribe or specify by any means the manner in which such 
products are packaged or labeled; or
(3) having knowledge, refuse to disclose the source of the mislabeled 
or mispackaged products."
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Sec. 3. Article 77 of the same Act is hereby amended by adding a new paragraph to
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be denominated a paragraph (i) to read as follows:
"Art. 77. Minimum Labeling Requirements for Consumer Products. —
All consumer products domestically sold whether manufactured locally or 
imported shall indicate the following in their respective labels of packaging:
a) XXX
b) "xxx
g) country of manufacture, if imported; [and]
h) If a consumer product is manufactured, refilled or repacked under license 
from a principal, the label shall so State the-fact; AND
nl) ITS "MANUFACTURING DATE," "EXPIRATION DATE", AND IF 
APPLICABLE, THE "BEST BEFORE DATE". THE UNIFORM DATE LABEL 
MUST BE PRINTED CLEARLY AND LEGIBLY ON THE LABEL IN THE 
FOLLOWING ORDER: MONTH, DAY AND YEAR. THE DAY AND THE 
YEAR MUST BE WRITTEN IN FIGURES WHILE THE MONTH MUST BE 
WRITTEN IN WORDS. THE TEXT MUST BE SINGLE EASY-TO-READ 
TYPE STYLE USING UPPER- AND LOWER-CASE LETTERS IN THE 
STANDARD FORM. THE USE OF "USE-BY," "CONSUME BEFORE," "BEST


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IF USED BY" AND OTHER SIMILAR PHRASES MUST NOT BE USED AS 
DATE LABELS ON THE PACKAGING OF CONSUMER PRODUCTS.
FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ACT. "MANUFACTURING DATE" REFERS TO 
THE DATE WHEN THE PRODUCT WAS PRODUCED OR MADE BY THE 
MANUFACTURER; "BEST BEFORE DATE" REFERS TO THE DATE WHEN 
THE QUALITY OF THE PRODUCT BEGINS TO DETERIORATE, BUT 
STILL ACCEPTABLE FOR CONSUMPTION BEFORE THE EXPIRATION 
DATE; AND "EXPIRATION DATE" REFERS TO THE DATE STATED ON 
THE LABEL OF FOOD. DRUG. COSMETIC, OR SIMILAR CONSUMER 
PRODUCT AFTER THE SAFETY, EFFICACY, QUALITY OR POTENCY 
MUST HAVE RUN ITS COURSE."
"The following may be required by the concerned department in accordance 
with the rules and regulations they will promulgate under authority of this 
Act:
a) XXX 
XXX
e) XXX
19 Sec 4. Article 84 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
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"SEC. 84. Additional Labeling Requirement for Food. — The following 
additional labeling requirements shall be imposed by the concerned 
department for food:
"a) MANUFACTURING DATE, EXPIRATION DATE. AND WHENEVER 
APPLICABLE. THE BEST BEFORE DATE;
"XXX 
"e) XXX."
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Sec. 5. Article 86 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
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"Art. 86. Labeling of Drugs. — The Generics Act shall apply in the labeling of
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drugs. THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION SHALL ENSURE THAT


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ALL DRUGS MANUFACTURED AND DISTRIBUTED LOCALLY SHALL 
HAVE "MANUFACTURING DATE," AND "EXPIRATION DATE" IN 
THEIR LABELS. THE UNIFORM DATE LABELS REQUIRED MUST BE 
PRINTED CLEARLY AND LEGIBLY ON THE LABEL IN THE FOLLOWING 
ORDER: MONTH. DAY AND YEAR. THE DAY AND THE YEAR MUST BE 
WRITTEN IN FIGURES WHILE THE MONTH MUST BE WRITTEN IN 
WORDS. THE TEXT MUST BE SINGLE EASY-TO-READ TYPE STYLE 
USING UPPER- AND LOWER-CASE LETTERS IN THE STANDARD 
FORM.
FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ACT, "MANUFACTURING DATE" REFERS TO 
THE DATE WHEN THE PRODUCT WAS PRODUCED OR MADE BY THE 
MANUFACTURER; AND "EXPIRATION DATE" REFERS TO THE DATE 
STATED ON THE LABEL OF FOOD, DRUG. COSMETIC. OR SIMILAR 
CONSUMER PRODUCT AFTER THE SAFETY. EFFICACY. QUALITY OR 
POTENCY MUST HAVE RUN ITS COURSE."
FOR PRODUCTS RECONSTITUTED PRIOR TO USE AND THOSE 
WHICH CAN BE ADMINISTERED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE LABEL SHALL 
INCLUDE THE PERIOD OF GUARANTEED SAFETY. EFFICACY. AND 
QUALITY OF THE RECONSTITUTED PREPARATION AFTER FIRST 
OPENING AT GIVEN STORAGE CONDITIONS."
22 Sec. 6. Article 87 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
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"Art. 87. Additional Labeling Requirements for Cosmetics— The following 
additional requirements may be required for cosmetics:
■ a) MANUFACTURING DATE AND expiry or expiration date; 
b) XXX 
C) XXX,"
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Sec. 7. Article 95 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows;
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"Art. 95. Penalties. —
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a) XXX


XXX
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"O ANY MANUFACTURER OR DISTRIBUTOR WHO VIOLATES THE 
PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 76, PARAGRAPH I OF ARTICLE 77, 
PARAGRAPH A OF ARTICLE 84, ARTICLE 86 AND PARAGRAPH A OF 
ARTICLE 87 OF THIS ACT SHALL BE PUNISHED WITH A FINE OF NOT 
LESS THAN TWENTY THOUSAND PESOS (P20,000.00) BUT NOT 
MORE THAN FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P50,000.00) OR 
IMPRISONMENT OF NOT LESS THAN THREE (3) MONTH BUT NOT 
MORE THAN TWO (2) YEARS, OR BOTH SUCH FINE AND 
IMPRISONMENT, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE PROPER COURT.
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"IF THE OFFENDER IS AN ALIEN, THE OFFENDER SHALL BE 
DEPORTED AFTER SERVICE OF SENTENCE AND PAYMENT OF FINE 
WITHOUT DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS.
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"IF THE VIOLATION IS COMMITTED BY A JURIDICAL PERSON, THE 
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND ALL PERSONS DIRECTLY 
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VIOLATION SHALL SUFFER THE PENALTY 
IMPOSED UNDER THIS SECTION."
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Sec. 8. Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of
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Trade and Industry, in coordination with the Secretary of Health, and the Director
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General of the Food and Drug Administration, shall issue the necessary rules and
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regulations for the effective implementation of the provisions of this Act,
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Sec. 9. If for any reason any part or provision of this Act is declared invalid or
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unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected thereby shall remain
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in full force and effect.
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Sec. 10. All laws, executive orders, issuances, decrees, rules and regulations
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inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are deemed amended,
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modified or repealed accordingly.


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Sec. 11. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official
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Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved.