TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
of t
-- i :i .i
‘ f* ‘T , • r ■ 1 •
25 JUL 14 P4 :06
SENATE
Senate Bill No. 582
RECEIVE 0 r:.,'
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING QUALITY STANDARDS FOR MINERAL, CARBONATED AND
OTHER BOTTLED WATER
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Ensuring that every Filipino has access to clean, safe and affordable drinking water 
is important in securing the safety and wellness of the population. Data from water.org, 
a non-profit aid organization whose goal is to help regions of developing countries 
without access to safe drinking water and sanitation, reveals that 60 million out of 115 
million Filipinos lack access to safe water.1
Unsafe water supply exposes individuals to the risk of suffering from waterborne 
diseases such as acute bloody diarrhea, cholera and other conditions brought by intake 
or use of water contaminated by microorganisms and other toxins. From January to 
December 2023, 10,878 cases of acute bloody diarrhea, 3,756 cases of cholera, 6,500 
cases of rotavirus and 23,149 cases of typhoid fever had been recorded by the 
Department of Health. These waterborne illnesses can easily be avoided by improving 
the safety of the source of household drinking water.2
In the country, bottled water or water from refilling stations is the most common 
source of drinking water, with around 44% of Filipino households relying on this 
source.3 In 2021, Euromonitor International, a global market research firm, reported 
that water bottle consumption was at 2,846 million liters.4 With a huge number of 
Filipino households relying on bottled water as a primary supply, there is a need to 
ensure the safety, cleanliness and quality standards of these products in order the 
protect the health and wellbeing of all of its consumers.
This bill seeks to provide a framework that will regulate the quality standards for 
bottled waters ensuring that all bottled water available in the market are safe and fit 
for public consumption.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI
1 https://water.org/our-innpact/where-we-work/philippines/
2 https://drive.gooele.eom/file/d/lDvTkOCUWYIXZBenDOA k YlWuhmWtl-k/view
3 https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1053459/did-vou-know-44-of-filipinos-prefer-to-drinl<-bottled-water
4 https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/news/pandemic-saw-sales-of-bottled-water-dip-in-asia-pacific/


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
of t.;:-
25 JUL 14 P4 :06
SENATE 
Senate Bill No.
RECEIVED..
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING QUALITY STANDARDS FOR MINERAL, CARBONATED AND
OTHER BOTTLED WATER
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Safe Bottled Water
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Act of2025."
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SEC. 2. Statement of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and
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promote the health of the people. Towards this end, it shall ensure that potable, safe and
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affordable drinking water is available to all the people by adopting a comprehensive policy
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framework to regulate the activities of mineral, carbonated and other bottled water
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businesses including suppliers, distributors and sellers thereof.
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SEC. 3. Quality Standards for Bottled Water. -
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(a) The interim or revised national primary drinking water regulations concerning
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maximum containment levels promulgated by the Food and Drugs
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Administration (FDA) shall be applicable to all kinds of bottled drinking water
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including mineral, spring, natural sparkling and vended water.
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(b) Within twelve (12) months after the date of the effectivity of this Act, the
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Department of Health (DOH) shall establish quality standards and definitions
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for mineral water and carbonated water, which shall include:
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(1) Limits for total dissolved solids, sulfate, sodium and trihalomethane
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content; and
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(2) As determined by established health-based drinking water standards.
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SEC. 4. Source Protection. - Within twelve (12) months after the date of the
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effectivity of this Act, the FDA shall:
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(a) Identify safe sources of bottled water; and


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(b) Establish criteria to determine the adequacy as well as the protection of
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"approved sources" of bottled water including, but not limited to:
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(1) Minimum construction standards for water wells;
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(2) Minimum distance separation from upstream wastewater discharges;
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and
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(3) Minimum distance separation from abandoned wells, septic tanks, waste
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impoundment and landfills.
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SEC. 5. Monitoring, Reporting and Inspection. - Within twelve (12) months
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after the date of the effectivity of this Act, the FDA shall:
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(a) Establish a bottled water monitoring program which, at a minimum, shall:
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(1) Be as stringent as that used for public water supplies and which provides
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for yearly testing and monitoring for unregulated contaminants 
for which
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public water utilities must test; and
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(2) Require that any analysis or testing be performed in an approved and
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certified laboratory.
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(b) Establish a bottled-water reporting program that shall:
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(1) Stipulate timetables and procedures for timely reporting;
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(2) Provide public notification procedures should any bottled water be found
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to be in excess of health-based standards;
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(3) Establish a national registry of bottled water facilities and their most
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current reporting information; and
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(4) Require that records of sampling and analysis be maintained at the plant
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for not less than two (2) years and shall be available for official review
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upon request.
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(c) Establish a bottled water facility inspection program which includes, at a
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minimum, two (2) scheduled inspections a year and one (1) unscheduled
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inspection a year.
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SEC. 6. Recall Regulations. - Within six (6) months after the date of the
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effectivity of this Act, the FDA shall:
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(a) Establish procedures and public notification guidelines for recall of a bottled
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water product which fall below any health-based standard; and
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(b) Require each bottled water manufacturer to develop and submit individual
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recall notification and recall procedures.
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SEC. 7. Prohibition of Dual Use of Bottled Water Equipment. - Within
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twelve (12) months after the date of the effectivity of this Act, the FDA shall prohibit the


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processing and bottling of noncarbonated water with equipment used to process milk, 
fruit juice or other food products likely to contribute nutrients for microbiological growth.
SEC. 8. BottHng/ Packaging and Storage Study. - The FDA shall conduct a 
comprehensive study of contaminants and the extent to which they contribute to the 
degradation of bottled water from the unique processing and storage of bottled water. 
The FDA shall pay particular attention to contamination problems, which may arise from 
the bottling, packaging or storage of bottled water products.
SEC. 9. Labeling. - Within six (6) months after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the DOH shall:
(a) Establish and enforce clear, concise, and encoded uniform source labeling 
requirements for all bottled water products which, at a minimum includes:
(1) The original source of the water;
(2) Type of water;
(3) Type of treatment, if any;
(4) The date of bottling;
(5) The address of the bottler; and
(6) Provide numerical specification of sodium content.
(b) Define mineral water, spring water, naturally carbonated, naturally sparkling, 
well water, natural well water, artesian water, natural artesian water, purified 
water, distilled water, drinking water and all other variants of bottled water 
existing in the market, and require that the definition for the appropriate 
product be placed on the bottle.
SEC. 10. Appropriations. - The initial amount necessary to implement the 
provisions of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the 
FDA under the DOH. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued 
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). -The DOH shall issue 
the IRR for this Act within one hundred twenty (120) days from its effectivity.
SEC. 12. Separability Clause. -If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid or subsisting.
SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to 
or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed modified or amended 
accordingly.


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SEC. 14. Effectivity Clause. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,