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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
First Regular Session 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 969 
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INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill proposes to require all cigarette and cigar manufacturers to determine 
and print the levels of tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide that could be inhaled in a stick 
of cigarette or cigar as compared to acceptable levels. 
The purpose is to enable smokers or potential smokers to at least know precisely 
how much nicotine, tar and deadly carbon monoxide could be imbibed in smoking 
cigars or cigarettes. Such information may provide fair warning on the health risks of 
smoking as well as provide data on the amount of toxins spread by smokers on so- 
called secondary smoke. 
Approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
MA 
AR 


SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 9 6 9  
_I I 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
AN ACT REQUIRING ALL CIGARETTE AND CIGAR MANUFACTURERS AND 
DISTRIBUTORS TO SCIENTIFICALLY DETERMINE AND TRUTHFULLY PRINT, ON 
EACH BOX OR PACK OF CIGARS OR CIGARETTES THAT THEY MANUFACTURE, 
OISTRIBUTE OR SELL WITHIN THE COUNTRY, THE LEVELS OF NICOTINE, TAR 
AND CARBON MONOXIDE THAT COULD BE INHALED IN SMOKING A STICK OF 
CIGAR OR CIGARETTE, AND PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
Disclosure of Levels of Toxicity. - 
All cigar and cigarette 
manufacturers, packaging companies or distributors are required to scientifically 
determine and truthfully print, on each box or pack of cigars or cigarettes that they 
distribute or sell, the levels of nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide that could be inhaled 
in smoking a stick of cigar or cigarette, as compared to acceptable levels. 
SEC. 2. Ban on All Non-complying Boxes and Packs. - All distribution outlets or 
wholesale or retail stores shall be, prohibited from selling, distributing or storing any box 
or pack of cigars or cigarettes that does not comp y with the requirements under this 
Act. 
SEC. 3. Scope. - This Act shall cover all boxes or packs of local or imported 
cigars and cigarettes produced or packaged for distribution or sale within the territory of 
the Republic of the Philippines. 
SEC. 4. Implementing Agencies. - The lead agency in the implementation of 
this Act shall be the Department of Health. It shall determine, define and disseminate 
information regarding measurements, standards and studies following the requirements 
of this Act. The Department shall also be responsible for monitoring compliance with 
this Act and in supporting and coordinating with the police agencies in apprehending 
and prosecuting violators of this Act. 
SEC. 5. Penalties. - A fine of Ten Thousand Pesos (PlO,OOO.OO) shall be 
imposed on any manufacturer, packaging entity, distributor, wholesale or retail store or 
distribution outlet for every count of violation of the provisions of this Act. For this 
purpose, every box or pack found without the required information or found with false or 
misleading information shall be considered one count of the violation. Any finished box 
or pack of cigar or cigarettes found without the required information in any retail or 
wholesale store or distribution outlet shall constitute prima facie evidence of the 
violation by the store owner or outlet owner of the provisions of this Act. 
Provided, 
That, should the non-complying box or pack of cigars or cigarettes be that of a local or 


imported brand registered for sale or distribution within the country, such box or boxes, 
pack or packs shall also constitute prima facie evidence of the violation by the 
registered manufacturer, packaging company, or distributor of the provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 6. Transitory Provisions. - All concerned manufacturers and packaging 
companies of cigars and cigarette, shall be allowed a period of one (1) year from the 
effectivity of this Act to comply with its provisions. All distributors, wholesale and retail 
stores and distribution outlets of cigars and cigarettes shall be allowed a period of one 
(1) year and six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act to exhaust its inventory of 
non-complying boxes and packs of cigars and cigarettes after which period the ban 
shall take effect. 
SEC. 7. Effectivity. - This Act. shall take a feat immediately upon approval 
hereof. 
Approved,