THTRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
’‘7 t34 
J i A  30 p ‘1 :fig 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
S.B. NO. 
Introduced by Senator LUISA “LOI” P. EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 16, Section 9 provides 
“The State shall protect consumers from trade malpractices 
and from substandard or hazardous products.” 
Consumption of bottled water has increased markedly in recent years, with 
thousands of households currently consuming .bottled drinking water as their source of 
drinking water. 
Consumers are paying premium prices for bottled water based on the assumption 
that it is of superior quality to their tap water. 
Unfortunately, bottled water sold in the country is left unregulated. 
This, 
certainly, is a cause of concern, as there exists a possibility that the bottled water sold in 
the market is not of superior quality as claimed. 
The purpose of this bill is to establish quality standards for mineral and 
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carbonated water, hence, immediate approval hereof is earnestly solicited. 
LUISA “LOI” PYEJERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


Introduced bv Senator LUISA “LOI” P. EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING QUALITY STANDARDS FOR MINERAL WATER AND 
CARBONATED WATER 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the Hmse of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congess assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Safe Bottled Water 
Act.” 
SEC. 2. Definitions. - For the purpose of this Act: 
(1) The term “Director” means the Director of the Bureau of Food and Drugs. 
(2) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Department of Health. 
SEC. 3. National Primary Drinking Water Regulations For Bottled Water. - 
(A) (1) When the Director promulgates interim or revised national primary 
drinking water regulations concerning maximum cont~nants levels, .such 
regulations shall be applicable to all bottled drinking waters, including 
mineral, spring, natural sparkling water and vended water. 
(2) Not later than twelve (12) months after the date of enactment of this 
section, the Secretary shall establish quality standards and definitions for 
mineral water and carbonated water which include - 
(a) 
limits for total dissolved solids, sulfate, sodium and trihalomethane 
content; 


(b) 
the Secretary shall insure that standards for mineral water and 
carbonated beverages meet all established health-based drinking 
water standards. 
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@)Source Protection. - Not later than twelve (12) months after the date of 
enactment of this section, the Director shall - 
(1) define ‘approved sources’ of bottled water; 
(2) establish criteria to determine the adequacy as well as the protection of 
‘approved sources’ of bottled water including but not limited to - 
(a) minimum well construction standards; 
(b) minimum distance separation from upstream wastewater discharges; 
(c) minimum distance separations from abandoned wells, septic tanks, 
waste impoundment and landfills. 
(C)Monitoring, Reporting and Inspection. - Not later than twelve (12) months 
afker the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall - 
(1) establish a bottled water monitoring program which at a minimum- 
(a) is as stringent as that used for public water supplies and provides for 
yearly testing and monitoring for unregulated contaminants for which 
public water utilities must test, and 
(b) requires that any analyses or testing be pe~ormed in an approved and 
certified laboratory. 
(2) establish a bottled water reporting program that includes - 
(a) time tables and procedures for timely reporting; 
(b) provide public notification procedures should a bottled water be found 
to be in exceedance of health based standards; 
(c) establish a national registry of bottled water facilities and their most 
current reporting information, and 
(d) require that records of sampling and analysis be maintained at the 
plant for not less that two (2) years and shall be available for official 
review upon request, 


(3) establish a bottled water facility inspection program which includes at a 
minimum two scheduled inspections a year and one unscheduled 
inspection a year. 
@)Recall Regulations. - Not later than six (6) months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Director shall - 
(1) establish procedures and public notification guidelines for recqll of a 
bottled water product if exceedance of any health based standards occurs. 
(2) Require each bottled water to develop and submit individual recall 
notification and recall procedures. 
(E) Prohibition of Dual Use Of Bottled Water Equipment. - Not later than twelve 
(12) months aRer the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall prohibit 
the processing and bottling of non-carbonated water with equipment used to 
process milk, h i t  juice or other food products likely to contribute nutrients 
for microbiological growth. 
(F) Bottling, Packaging and Storage Study. - The Director shall conduct a 
comprehensive study of contaminants and the extent to which they contribute 
to the degradation of bottled water from the unique processing and storage of 
bottled water. 
The Director shall pay particular attention to contamination 
problems which may arise from the bottling, packaging or storage of bottled 
water products. 
SEC. 4. Labeling. - Not later than six (6) months afier the date of endctment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall - 
(1) establish and enforce clear, concise, and un-coded uniform source labeling 
requirements for all bottled water products which at a minimum includes - 
(a) the original source of the water; 
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(b) type of water; 
(c) type of treatment, if any; 
(d) the date of bottling; 


(e) the address of the bottler; and 
(f) provide numerical specification of sodium content. 
(2) define mineral water, spring water, naturally carbonated, naturally 
sparkling, well water, natural well water, artesian water, natural artesian 
water, purified water, distilled water, drinking water, and require that the 
definition for the appropriate product be placed on the bottle. 
SEC. 5. Authorization of Funding. - There are hereby authorized to be 
appropriated to the Department of Health and Bureau of Food and Drugs, such ‘sums as 
may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. 
SEC. 6. 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. 
SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rules or regulations contrary to or 
inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
SEC. 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
GVL/pink disk 3/mineral water