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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2 provides: 
Section 15. 
The State shall protect and promote the right to health of 
the people and instill health consciousness among them. 
Meat and meat products are an important source of the nation's total supply of 
food. It is essential in the public interest that the health and welfare of consumers be 
protected by assuring that imported meat food products oEered for retail sale bear a label 
that identifies its country of origin 
This bill requires the labeling of imported meat and meat products, in order to 
protect the public against deceptive, unfair and unconscionable sales of imported meat 
food products in the country 
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THIR-TEENTH C-BNGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILLPPNES 
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First Regular Session 
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AN ACT 
PRODUCTS 
TO REQUIRE THE LABELING OF IMPORTED MEAT AND MEAT 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
FOOD 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall he known as “Meat Labeling Act.” 
SECTION 2. Declarzrtion of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect the 
interests of the consumer against deceptive, unfair, and unconscionable sales acts and 
practices, and to adopt measures to insure pure and safe supply of imported meat food 
products in the country. 
SECTION 3. DeJinition ofTer7ns. -For purposes ofthis Act, the term: 
(1) “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture. 
(2) “Country of origin” means the country or countries in which an animal is 
raised before slaughter. 
-‘(3) 
“Lagl’-means display of written, printed or graphic matter affixed to any 
imported meat or meat food products, its immediate container, or other suitable material 
affixed for the purpose of giving information as to identify its country of origin: 
(4) “Beef” means meat produced from cattle (including veal). 
(5) “Pork” means meat produced from hogs. 
(6) “Lamb” means meat, other than mutton, produced from sheep. 
(7) “Imported beef” means beef that is not Philippine beef, 
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whether or 


Philippines. Exclusion. - The term “Philippine pork” does not include por 
from hogs imported into the Philippines in sealed trucks for slaughter. 
SECTION 4. Labeling of inported meat and meat foodproducts. - 
(1) Labeling Required- 
(a) Imported meat and meat food product imported into the Philippines 
shall bear or are accompanied by labeling that identifies the country of origin of 
the animal that is the source of the imported carcass, part thereof, or meat or is 
part of the contents of the imported meat food product. 
(b) Imported meat food product prepared in the Philippines using any 
carcass, part thereof, or meat imported into the Philippines shall bear 01- is 
- -  accompanied. by labeling that identifies the country of origin of the animal that is 
the source of the imported carcass, part thereof, or meat. 
(2) Mandatory Labeling- The Secretary shall provide by regulation that the 
following offered for retail sale bear a label that identifies its country of origin: 
c produced 
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(a) Muscle cuts of Philippine beet Philippine pork, Philippine lamb, 
imported beef, imported lamb, and imported pork. 
(b) Ground beef, ground lamb, and ground pork.. 
(3) Audit Verification System for Philippine and Imported Muscle Cuts of Beef, 
Lamb, and Pork and Ground Beef, Lamb, and Pork-The Secretary may require any 
person that prepares, stores, handles, or distributes muscle cuts of Philippine beef, 
imported beef, Philippine lamb, imported lamb, Philippine pork, imported pork, ground 
beef, ground lamb, ground pork for retail sale maintain a verifiable recordkeeping audit 
trail that will permit the Secretary to ensure compliance with the regulations promulgated 
under subsection (I). 
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SECTION 5 .  Regulations. - Not later than one (1) year after t 
enactment of this Act, the S.ecretary shall promulgate final regulations to 
provisions of this Act 
SECTION 6. Penalties. - Any person who shall violate any provision of this Act 
shall upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not less than One Thousand Pesos 
(P1,OOO.OO) but not more than Ten Thousand Pesos (Pl0,OOO.OO) or imprisonment of not 
less than two (2) months but not more than one (l), or both upon the discretion of the 
court. If the offender is an alien, he shall be deported after service of sentence and 
payment of fine without hrther deportation proceedings. 
SECTION 7 
Sepambilztj Clause - If any provision or part thereof, is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the reminder of the law of the provision not othenvlse 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting 
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SECTION 8. 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. 
SECTION 9. Eflectzvity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (1 5) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation 
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Approved. 
FN. S.B. 1585