SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. a 6 8 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Government is mandated under the Constitution to ensure the quality of 
life for all Filipinos by making available safe, clean, and nutritious foods for 
everyone. This includes the prevention of fraudulent and unfair acts involving 
sale of meat products in the country. 
This legislative measure therefore aims to ensure that fraudulent and 
unfair practices are prevented through the proper labeling of meat prodvcts that 
are being sold in the open market. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this measure is earnestly 
sought. 
Senator 


, ' 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. :3 {) 8 
) 
) 
) 
'13 
JUL -3 Pl :08 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTING THE LABELING OF IMPORTED MEAT AND MEAT FOOD 
PRODUCTS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title, - This Act shall be known as the "The Meat 
Labeling Act of 2013". 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared that the policy of 
the State to protect the interest of the general public against deceptive, unfair, 
and fraudulent sales acts and practices, and to implement measures to ensure 
the safe supply of imported meat and meat food products in the country. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purpose of this Act, the term: 
1. 
"Secretary" refers to the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture 
, (DA); 
2. 
"Country of Origin" refers to the country or countries in which an 
animal is raised before slaughter; 
3. 
"Label" refers to display of written printed or graphic matter affixed to 
any imported meat or meat products, its immediate container or other 
suitable material affixed for the purpose of giving information as to 
identify its country of origin; 
i 
4, 
"Beef refers from meat produced from cattle (including veal); 
5, 
"Pork" refers to meat produced from hogs; 
6, 
"Lamb" refers to meat, other than mutton, produced from sheep; 
7. 
"Imported beef refers to beef that is not Philippine beef, whether or 
not the beef is graded with a quality grade issued by the Secretary; 
8, 
"Imported pork refers to pork that is not Philippine Pork; 


9. 
"Imported lamb refers to lamb that is not Philippine lamb, whether or 
not the lamb is graded with a quality grade issued by the Secretary; 
10. "Philippine Beef refers from beef produced from cattle slaughtered in 
the Philippines; 
11. "Philippine Pork" refers to pork produced from hogs slaughtered in 
the Philippines; 
12. "Philippine Lamb" refers to lamb produced from sheep slaughtered in 
the Philippines. 
SEC. 4. Labeling of imported meat and meat food product.-
a. Labeling is required in the following: 
1. Imported meat or meat food product into the Philippines shall bear or 
shall be accompanied by labeling that identifies the country of origin of th~ animal 
that is the source of the imported carcass, part thereof, or meat that is part of the 
contents of the imported meat food product; and 
2. Imported meat food product prepared in the Philippines using any 
carcass, part thereof, or meat imported into the Philippines shall bear or shall be 
accompanied by labeling that identifies the country of origin of the animal that is 
the source if the imported carcass, part thereof, or meat. 
b. Mandatory Labeling -The Secretary shall provide by rules and regulation that 
the following offered for retail sale bear a label that identifies its country of origin: 
1. Muscle cuts of Philippine beef, Philippine pork, Philippine lamb, 
imported beef, imported lamb, and imported pork. 
2. Ground beef, ground lamb and ground pork; and 
c. Audit Verification System for Philippine and Imported Muscle Cuts of Beef, 
Lamb, and Pork - The Secretary may require be regulation that any person that 
prepares, stores, handles, or distributes muscle cuts of Philippine beef, imported 
beef, Philippine lamb, imported lamb, Philippine pork, imported pork, ground 
beef, ground lamb, or ground pork for retail sale maintain a verifiable record 
keeping audit trail that will permit the Secretary to ensure compliance with 
regulations promulgated under subsection (a). 
SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Secretary shall 
promUlgate the implementing rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of 
this Act. Not later than six(6) months after the date of effectivity of this Act. 
SEC. 6. Penalties. Any person found to violate any provision of this Act 
shall upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not less than ten thousand pesos 
(P10,000.00) but not more than fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) or 
imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more that two (2) years, or 
both upon the discretion of the court. If the offender is an alien, he shall be 
deported after service of sentence and payment of fine further deportation 
proceedings. 


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SEC, 7. Separability Clause. If any provision, or part hereof, is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision shall remain 
valid and subsisting, 
SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation 
contrary to inconsistent with, the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, 
modified or amended accordingly, 
SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,