Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _518

INTRODUCED BY: HON. MARCELINO “MARCY” R. TEODORO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article Il, Section 15 of the Constitution states that “the State shall protect
and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness
among them.”

To create consciousness of the importance of healthy eating habits and
eventually healthy lifestyle, it is very important to know the nutritional content of
the foods people are eating, especially those from fast-food chains. People
suffering from certain diseases must be informed of the nutritional components of
the food they eat, otherwise, they would be putting themselves at greater risk
without them knowing it.

Restaurants and fast-food chains should be responsible in presenting and
Preparing their food. And they should be obliged to put nutrition labels, just a
small price to pay necessary in promoting the good health of the community and
the country in general. Presently, however, there is no law requiring all restaurant
and food establishment operators to indicate the nutritional value of the foods
they offer.

This bill seeks to promote health awareness among public by requiring
concerned entities to provide for nutrition labels of food products.

Thus, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

Shove Lis A
MARCELINO “MARCY” R. TEODORO

Representative, 1“ District
City of Marikina


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HousE BILL No. _9!8

INTRODUCED BY: HON. MARCELINO “MARCY” R. TEODORO

AN ACT
REQUIRING MANUFACTURERS, PACKERS AND DISTRIBUTORS OF FOOD
PRODUCTS, AND RESTAURANT AND FAST-FOOD CHAIN OPERATORS TO.
SPECIFY IN THEIR RESPECTIVE FOOD LABELS, PACKAGES OR
CONTAINERS THE NUTRITION INFORMATION OF EACH PRODUCT
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7394, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE “CONSUMER ACT OF THE PHILIPPINES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in Congress
assembled: .

Section 1. Article 4 of Republic Act No. 7394 otherwise known as the
Consumer Act of the Philippines is hereby amended to read, as follows:

“Article 4. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the term:
XXX}

ag) “Food” means any substance, whether processed, semi-processed or
raw, intended for human consumption and includes chewing gum, drinks and
beverages and any substance which has been used as an ingredient or a
component in the manufacture, preparation or treatment of food. THE TERM
ALSO MEANS ANY MATERIAL USUALLY OF PLANT OR ANIMAL ORIGIN,
CONTAINING OR CONSISTING OF ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS THAT MUST BE
TAKEN IN OR ASSIMILATED BY A PERSON AS NOURISHMENT TO
MAINTAIN LIFE AND GROWTH.

IT ALSO INCLUDES THOSE BEING PROCESSED, DISTRIBUTED AND.
OFFERED IN PACKAGE OR CONTAINER, AS WELL AS, THOSE FOOD
PRODUCTS NOT CONTAINED IN DISPOSABLE PACKAGE OR CONTAINER.

XX

bn) “Seller” means a person engaged in the business of selling consumer
products directly to consumers [.] SUCH AS BUT NOT LIMITED TO
RESTAURANTS AND FASTFOOD ESTABLISHMENTS. It shall include a
supplier or distributor if (1) the seller is a subsidiary or affiliate of the supplier or
distributor; (2) the seller interchanges personnel or maintains common or
overlapping officers or directors with the supplier or distributor; or (3) the supplier
or distributor provides or exercises supervision, direction or control over the
selling practices of the seller.

KEK


by) RESTAURANT — MEANS ANY PLACE WHERE MEALS CAN BE
BOUGHT AND EATEN.

bz) FAST-FOOD CHAIN — MEANS ANY FOOD ESTABLISHMENT
OFFERING FOOD SUCH AS HAMBURGERS, KEBABS, PIZZAS, ETC.,
USUALLY PREPARED AND SERVED QUICKLY.”

Sec. 2. Article 76 of same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Article 76. Prohibited Acts on Labeling and Packaging. It shall be
unlawful for any person, either as principal or agent, engaged in the labeling and
packaging of any consumer product, to display or distribute or to cause to be
displayed or distributed in commerce any consumer product whose package or
label does not conform to the provisions of this Chapter.

The prohibition in this Chapter shall [not] apply to persons engaged in the
business of wholesale or retail distributors of consumer products [except to the
extent that] INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO such persons WHO:

a) are engaged in the packaging or labeling of such products;

b) prescribe or specify by any means the manner in which such products.
are packaged or labeled; or

c) having knowledge, refuse to disclose the source of the mislabeled or
mispackaged products.”

Sec. 3. Article 84 of the same Act is hereby amended to read,as follows”

“Article 84, Additional Labeling Requirements for Food.- The following
additional labeling requirements shall be imposed by the concerned
department for food:

a) expiry or expiration date, where applicable;

b) whether the consumer product is semi-processed, fully
processed, ready-to-cook, ready-to-eat, prepared food or just
plain mixture;

¢) nutritive value, [if any] WHICH SHALL CONTAIN THE
FOLLOWING:

(1) NUMBER OF SERVINGS OR OTHER UNITS OF
MEASURE PER CONTAINERS;

(2) THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CALORIES DERIVED
FROM ANY SOURCE, AND DERIVED FROM THE
TOTAL FATS; AND

(3) THE AMOUNT OF THE FOLLOWING NUTRIENTS IN
EACH SERVING SIZE OR OTHER UNIT OF
MEASUREMENT OF THE FOOD:

(a) TOTAL FAT;

(b) SATURATED FAT;

(c) CHOLESTEROL;

(4) SODIUM;

(e) TOTAL CARBOHYDRATES;

(f) COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATES;
(g) SUGARS;


(h) DIETARY FIBER; AND
(i) TOTAL PROTEIN

(4) ANY VITAMIN, MINERAL, OR OTHER NUTRIENT
REQUIRED TO BE PLACED ON THE LABEL OR
LABELING OF FOOD IF IT IS DETERMINED THAT
SUCH INFORMATION WILL ASSIST CONSUMERS IN
MAINTANING HEALTHY DIETARY PRACTICES.

d) whether the ingredients use are natural or synthetic, as the case
may be;

) such other labeling requirements as the concerned department
may deem necessary and reasonable.”

Sec. 4, Article 85 of the same Act is hereby amended to read, as follows:

KKK

m) FOODS OR FOOD PRODUCTS OFFERED BY
RESTAURANTS AND FAST-FOODS CHAINS SHALL LIKEWISE
CONFORM WITH THE FOREGOING REGULATIONS;

n) IN CASE OF FOODS NOT CONTAINED IN ANY
DISPOSABLE PACKAGE OR _ CONTAINER, RESTAURANT
OPERATORS MUST PROVIDE CUSTOMERS WITH A FLYER QR
LEAFLET CONTAINING THE PRESCRIBED NUTRITIONAL
INFORMATION, WHEN REQUESTED ACCORDINGLY.”

Sec. 5. Effectivity — This Act shall take effect 15 days after its complete

publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.