, 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
JUL -1 
P4 :31 
SENATE 
lS3 
s. No. ~"'-""'-''''--
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santi::
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1 
VI. ' '.W: (T 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Studies by the United States Center for Disease Control show that most people carry in 
their bodies concentrations of a family of synthetic chemicals known as phthalates. Phthalates, or 
phthalate esters, are a group of chemical compounds that are mainly used as plasticizers or 
substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility. They are chiefly used to turn polyvinyl 
chloride from a hard plastic into a flexible plastic. l 
Phthalates are commonly found in plastics, pesticides, and personal care products like 
shampoos, soaps, and makeup. Exposure to phthalates has been linked to malformed sex organs 
in male lab animals. Alarmingly enough, a recent study revealed that there is a link between 
mothers exposed to phthalates and genital birth defects in male infants. 
As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Thus, this bill seeks 
to avoid the hazardous effects of phthalates on children by prohibiting the sale of toys and other 
articles intended for children three (3) years of age and below.2 
I http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plitlialates. 
2 This bill was originally filed during the Fourteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 
I 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
'sert41fr 
. 
'ltlf';' .• 1 tq.JH ... ~· r 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
·13 J\l. -1 P4 :31 
SENAIlJ3 
S. No. _---'-'--'--'--
RE('[lVl':il BY:T , 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
I 
AN ACT 
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PROHIBITING THE SALE OF TOYS AND OTHER ARTICLES CONTAINING 
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PHTHALATES TO CHILDREN THREE YEARS OF AGE AND BELOW 
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 "Phthalate-Free Toy 
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Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is a policy of tbe State to protect tbe 
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physical, moral and social well-being of children. Towards this end, the State shall prohibit 
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tbe sale of toys containing phthalates to children three (3) years of age or below. 
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SECTION 3. Definition of Phthalates. - For the purposes of tbis Act, the term 
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"phthalates" means dialkyl or alkyl aryl esters of 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid including, 
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but not limited to, dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, diallyl phthalate, di-n-propyl 
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phthalate, di-nbutyl phthalate, diisobutyl phthalate, butyl cyclohexyl phthalate, di-n-pentyl 
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phthalate, dicyclohexyl phthalate, butyl benzyl phthalate, di-n-hexyl phthalate, diisohexyl 
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phthalate, diisoheptyl phthalate, butyl decyl phthalate, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, di(n-
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octyl) phthalate, diisooctyl phthalate, n-octyl n-decyl phthalate, diisononyl phtbalate, 
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diisodecyl phthalate, diundecyl phthalate, diisoundecyl phthalate, ditridecyl phthalate, and 
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diisotridecyl phthalate. 
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SECTION 4. Prohibition on the Sale o/Toys Containing Phthalates; Penalties. - On 
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or after one hundred and twenty (120) days from the passage of this Act, no toy or article 
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intended for use by children three (3) years of age or younger if it contains any measurable 
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amount of phthalates. 
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Any person found in violation of this Act shall be punished by a penalty of prision 
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correctional, or a fine ranging from Ten Thousand Pesos (l!IO,OOO.OO) to Fifty Thousand 
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Pesos (l!50,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court, taking into consideration the 
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circumstances of the case. 
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If the offender is a corporation, trust or firm, partnership, association or any other 
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entity, the penalty of imprisonment shall be imposed on the entity's responsible officers, 
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including, but not limited to, the president, vice-president, chief executive officer, general 
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manager, managing director or partner directly responsible therefor. 
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SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision or any part hereof is held 
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invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected 
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shall remain valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. -
Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
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executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or 
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inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended 
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accordingly. 
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SECTION 7. 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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