Sixteenth Congress of the Republic 
of the Philippines 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B.No. 294 
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'13 
JUL -2 A9 :44 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. ,~~~ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The freedom to choose and exercise one's religion is a fundamental right recognized by 
the State and guaranteed by our Constitution. While the majority of Filipinos are Christians, we 
cannot discount the fact that many Filipinos have embraced Islam as their religion. 
In keeping with the spirit of respect and recognition for our Muslim brother~ and sisters, 
this representation has 'introduced this legislation, which seeks to institute a Ralal system for 
certification and accreditation for food, non-food and services consumed and patronized by the 
Muslim community. 
By doing so, we not only show our genuine concern for the safety and welfare of Muslim 
populace but also our sensitivity as a nation to the desire to unite all Filipinos. 
I therefore appeal for the immediate enactment of this measure. 
ftNGREV1LIA.JR. 


Sixteenth Congress of the Republic 
of the Philippines 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
294 
S.B.No. __ _ 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revill~r. 
AN ACT 
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ESTABLISHING THE GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR THE PHILIPPINE 
HALAL SYSTEM, CREATING FOR THE PURPOSE THE PHILIPPINE 
HALAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND CONVERTING THE SAME INTO 
A BOARD AFTER THE TRANSITION PERIOD, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the '''Halal Act of 20 13." 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and promote the 
right of the people to health and to the fi.ee exercise of religion. Towards this end, the State shall 
ensure that the religious practices of the Islamic community are respected, safeguarded and 
promoted by institutionalizing a Halal certification and accreditation system for food, non-food 
and service products consumed and patronized by Muslims. 
It shall also be the purpose of this Act to institute the Halal system in order to promote 
Philippine Halal products and services for export 
Section 3. Defil\ition of Terms. - As used in this Act: 
a. 
Shariah Law - means the Islamic Law based on the A1-Q-u~ AI-Hadith 
(Traditions of the Messenger of Allah), Ijma (Consensus of Islamic Scholars) 
and Qiyas (Legai Deduction or Analogy) according to the Shafei or anyone of 
the Hanafi, Maliki or Hanbali Schools of Thought which have been practiced 
by countries where these guidelines have been implemented. 
b. 
Halal - means "lawful," as pertaining to food or products permitted for human 
consumption under Shariah Law. 
c. 
Carrion - as defined by Shariah Law means the flesh of swine and dogs; flesh 
of dead animals that have been sacrificed to idols; flowing blood; flesh partly 
consumed by beasts and buds of prey; and dead or decaying flesh of animals 
felled by strangulation, beating or goring. 
d. 
Najis - as defined by Shariah Law means things that are themselves filthy and 
caunot be cleaned like: pork, blood and carrion, as well as lawful food that has 
been contaminated or has come in contact with filth. 
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Section 4. General Guidelines. - There shall be established for the food, beverage, 
cosmetics, garments and textile, and other concerned industries the following general guidelines 
on the preparation, handling, storage and verification of Ralal products to serve as basic 
requirements for certification as well as the accreditation of Ralal abattoirs, outlets and other 
service establishments: 
a. 
The food or product, or their ingredients, does not contain any components of 
animals and carrion that are prohibited under Shariah Law, or animals that are not 
slaughtered according to Shariah Law. 
b. 
The food or product does not contain ingredients that are considered Najis by 
Shariah Law. 
c. 
The food or product is not prepared, processed or manufactured using equipment 
that has been contaminated with Najis. 
I 
d. 
During its preparation, processing, storage or transportation, the food'or product is 
fully separated fi-om, and does not come in contact with, any other food or 
product that has been decreed Najis by Shariah Law or does not meet the 
requirements stated in items (a), (b) or (c) above. 
e. 
Service establislunents such as, but not limited to, hotels, restaurants, resorts and 
similar service facilities purposely established for and catering to Muslim patrons 
and abattoirs, factories, and similar establishments purposely producing Ralal 
goods shall conform to the national standards on Ralal certification and 
accreditation. 
f. 
Labels of products that are certified Ralal shall contain the word "Ralal" or its 
equivalent term and should not be used in ways which could give rise to doubt 
about the safety of similar food or claims that halal foods are nutritionally 
superior to, or healthier than, other foods. 
These guidelines shall be used together with the country's existing provisions of 
law on the preparation, processing, manufacturing of food and non-food and other 
products in accordance with health, hygiene and sanitation standards and good 
manufacturing practices. 
Section 5. Philippine Ralal Executive Council. - A Philippine Ralal Executive Council, 
hereinafter referred to as the Council, is hereby created and shall exist for a transitory period of 
five (5) years pending its transformation into the Philippine Ralal Certification and Accreditation 
Board established under Section 8 hereof 
The Council shall be chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry 
(DTI) and co-chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA). The Executive 
Director of the Office on Muslim Affairs shall be the Vice-chairman and the Chief Operating 
Officer. The Council shall have as members the following representatives: 
a. Two (2) representatives from the DTI composed of one (1) 
representative each from the Bureau of Export Trade and Promotion 
(BETP) and the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) of the DTI; 
b. Two (2) representatives from the Department of Agriculture composed 
of OJ).e (1) representative each from the Bureau of Agriculture and 
Fisheries Product Standards (BAFPS) and the National Meat 
Inspection Commission (NMIC) of the DA; 
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c. One (1) representative from the Department of Health - Bureau of 
Food and Drugs (BFAD); 
d. One (1) representative from the Department of Science and 
Technology POST); 
e. One (1) representative from the National Food Authority - Food 
Development Center (NFA-FDC); 
f. 
One (1) representative from the Office of Muslim Affairs (OMA) -
Bureau of External Relations; 
g. One (1) representative from the Islamic Da'wah Council of the 
Philippines; 
h. One (1) representative from the UIama Council of the Philippines; 
1. 
Two (2) representatives from the private sector to be nominated by the 
Philippine Exporter's Confederation, Inc. 
Section 6. Function of the Council. - The Council shall establish the certification 
scheme for Halal food and non-food products and services and the accreditation system for 
establishments engaged in the manufacture, distribution and provision of the same and shall 
oversee the initial implementation of both programs. For this purpose, the- Council shall issue 
Halal certification and/or accreditation which shall be valid for a period of one (1) year and 
renewable every year thereafter. 
The Council shall promulgate such rules and regulations necessary for the effective 
implementation ofthis Act. 
Section 7. Halal Certification and Accreditation. - The system guidelines established 
by the Council shall he called the Philippine Halal Certification and Accreditation Standards, 
hereinafter referred to as the Standards. 
The Standards shall provide the specific guidelines for a comprehensive and integrated 
Philippine Halal certification and accreditation system that will govern the extraction, 
preparation, processing, manufacture and production, packaging, labeling, transportation, 
storage, marketing and distribution of Halal foods and products as well as the accreditation of 
Halal abattoirs, outlets, hotels, restaurants and concerned service establishments. 
The Standards shall conform to existing international standards and guidelines on Halal. 
The Council shall submit a find copy ofthe Standards to the President and to Congress 
within one (1) year from its creation. 
Section 8. Transition Period. - The Council shall be deemed abolished five (5) years 
from its creation and shall be replaced by the Philippine Halal Certification and Accreditation 
Board, hereinafter referred to as the Board, which shall undertake the functions of the Council 
and continue to oversee the implementation of the Standards and this Act, The Board shall be an 
independent autonomous body, attached to the Office of the President, and shall be subject to 
existing laws, rules and regulations. 
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Section 9. Composition of the Board. - The Board shall be headed by a Chairman and 
assisted by two (2) Vice-Chairmen, all appointed by the President. The representatives from 
agencies in the defunct Council shall automatically constitute the Technical Advisory Committee 
of the Board. 
The Chairman shall be the Chief Executive Officer. 
Section 10. Board Secretariat. - The Board shall have a Secretariat, herein created, 
headed by an Executive Director who .shall assist the Chairman in the day-to-day operations. 
Section 11. Congressional Oversight Committee. - Three (3) years from the effectivity 
of this Act, a Congressional Oversight Committee composed of Senate Committees on Trade and 
Commerce and Cultural Commlmities, and the House of Representatives' Committees on Trade 
and Industry and Muslim Affairs, "shall be constituted for the purpose of evaluating the 
implementation of the Philippine Halal certification and accreditation system under the 
supervision of the Council and if warranted, recommend the appropriate legislative measures to 
support, complement, supplement or amend this Act. 
Section 12. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the effective 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current appropriations of the DTI, and 
where covered by specific provisions of this Act, the Departments of Agriculture, Health, 
Science and Technolo!,'Y, the Office of Muslim affairs .and other appropriate agencies, 
Thereafter, and after the creation of the Board, such funds as may be necessary for its continued 
implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
Section 13. Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act be subsequently 
declared unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in full force and 
effect. 
Section 14. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or any 
part thereof, which are inconsistent herewith, are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
Section 15. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines. 
Approved, 
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