FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
) 
First Regular Session 
SENAW 
S. No. _~_<i$_~JL 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 15, provides: 
The States shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and 
instill health consciousness among them. 
Consumers have the right tC!:110W the country of origin of the purchase. However, there 
is no law requiring that imported agricultural commodities offered [or retail sale bear a label 
identify their country of origin. 
The label that identifies the perishable agricultural commodity's country of origin would 
enable the consumers to make decisions about food safety concerns, or if they have concerns 
about pesticide, or environmental practices in specific countries. 
This bill' seeks to reqUIre country-of-origin labeling of perishable agricultural 
commodities imported into the Philippines and to establish penalties for violations of the labeling 
requirements . 
• This bill was originally tiled by tbe Senator during the Thirteenth Congress 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SEN'f338 
S. No. 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT TO REQUIRE COUNTRY-OF-ORIGIN LABELING OF PERISHABLE 
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AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES IMPORTED INTO THE PHILIPPINES AND TO 
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ESTABLISH PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE LABELING REQUIREMENTS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Imported Produce Labeling 
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Act." 
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SECTION 2. Definitions. -For purposes of this Act, the term: 
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(I) "Perishable Agricultural Commodity" means, whether or not frozen or packed 
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in ice, fresh fruits and fresh vegetables of every kind and character. 
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(2) "Retailer" means person engaged in the business of selling consumer products 
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directly to consumers. 
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SECTION 3. Indication of Country of Origin of Imported Perishable Agricultural 
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Commodities.-
IS 
(I) NOTICE OF COUNTRY OF ORIGIN REQUIRED - A retailer of a 
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perishable agricultural commodity into the Philippines shall inform consumers, at the 
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final point of sale of the perishable agricultural commodity to consumers, of the country 
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of origin of the perishable agricultural commodity. 
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(2) METHOD OF NOTIFICA TION-
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(A) IN GENERAL - The information required by subsection (1) may be 
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provided to consumers by means of a label, stamp, mark, placard, or other clear 
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and visible sign on the imported perishable agricultural commodity or on the 
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package, display, holding unit, or bin containing the commodity at the final point 
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of sale to consumers. 
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(B) LABELED COMMODITIES - If the imported perishable agricultural 
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commodity is already individually labeled regarding country of origin by the 
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packer, impolter, or another person, the retailer shall not be required to provide 
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any additional information to comply with this Section. 
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(3) APPLICATION OF SECTION - This Act shall apply with respect to a 
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perishable agricultural commodity imported into the Philippines after the end of the 6-
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month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act. 
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SECTION 4. Regulations. - Not later than one (1) year after the enactment of this 
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Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the 
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provisions on this Act 
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SECTION 5. Penalties. - Any person who shall violate any provision of this Act shall 
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upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not less than One Thousand Pesos (P1,OOO.OO) but not 
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more than Ten Thousand Pesos (PlO,OOO.OO) or imprisonment of not less than two (2) months 
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but not more than one (1) year, or both upon the discretion of the court If the offender is an 
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alien, he shall be deported after service of sentence and payment of line without further 
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deportatioll proceedings. 
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SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of insllUction, administrative order, mle or regUlation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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