THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
c 
S .  No. 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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International and local medical researches have shown that a high dietary intake of saturated 
fat can lead to increased serum cholesterol levels which, in turn, can lead to Coronary Heart 
Disease (CHD). CHD is a killer disease in the Philippines and the number one killer disease in 
America 
To decrease the risk of acquiring the disease, private and public studies by experts in the fields 
of medicine and nutrition unanimously support the conclusion that the people should know 
how much fat, particularly saturated fat, they consume and should guard against too 
consumption of fat in general and saturated fat in particular. 
Republic Act No. 7394 or the "Consumer Act of the Philippines;" Articles 77 and 84, provides 
for the minimum labelling requirements for consumer products and additional labelling 
requirements for food, respectively. However, these provisions on labelling requirements do not 
expressly require information on the fat acid cholesterol content of foods. Thus, not all 
consumer food products contain such information. 
The bill therefore seeks to provide consumers with more information on the fat and cholesterol 
content of foods through improved labelling. 


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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR, JR. 
AN ACT TO PRESCRIBE LABELLING REQVlREMENTS FOR FOODS WHICH 
CONTAIN SATURATED FAT AND CHOLESTEROL 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title - This Act shall be known as the "Low Cholesterol 
Consumer Education Act." 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy - It is the policy of the State to protect the 
interest of a the consumer, promote his general welfare and to establish standards of 
conduct for business and industry. Towards this end, the State shall implement 
measures to achieve the following objectives: 
a) protection against hazards to health and safety; and 
b) provision of information and education to facilitate sound 
choice and the proper exercise of rights by the consumer; 
The State shall therefore, enforce compulsory labeling, and fair packaging to 
enable the consumer to obtain accurate information as to the nature, quality and 
quantity of the contents of consumer products and to facilitate his/her comparison of 
the value of such products. 
SECTION 3. -Definition of Terms - For purposes of this Act, the terms: 
(1) "Saturated Fat" refers to one of the basic groups of fats 
separated chemically (the other being the unsaturated fat). Intake of the saturated 
type of fat has been shown to raise the level of cholesterol in the blood; 
combination with trigylcerides and protein-bound phospholipids. It is a precursor to 
the formation of the Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), high levels of which in the blood, 
leads to coronary heart disease. Cholesterol can be found primarily in fats and 
particularly in animal fats, eggs, and dairy products; 
graphic matter on any consumer product or its immediate container, tag, literature or 
other suitable material affixed thereto for the purpose of giving information as to 
identity, components, ingredients, attributes, directions for use, specifications and 
such other information as may required by law or regulations; and 
the quality and safety of a product. 
(2) "Cholesterol" refers to a sterol found in animal tissue in 
(3) "Label, labeling" refers to the display of written, printed or 
(4) "Standards" refers to a set of conditions to be fulfilled to ensure 
SECTION 4. Standards - Not later than one hundred eighty (1 SO) days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health shall establish and 
publish the following: 
(1) standards for the recommended maximum daily levels of total fat, total 
saturated fat and cholesterol in total dietary intake, expressed as a percentage of 
calories from fat and total grams of fat, and 
purposes of enabling consumers to make comparisons of fat content contained in 
similar or like products. 
(2) relevant and appropriate standards for determining serving sizes of foods for 
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SECTION 5. Labelling - The Department of Health shall impose an additional 
(1) saturated fat content; and 
(2) cholesterol content. 
labeling requirement for food which specifically shows: 
SECTION 6. Prohibited Acts on Labelling - It shall be unlawful for any 
person, either as principal or agent, engaged in the labeling or packaging of any food 
consumer product, to display or distribute of to cause to be displayed or distributed in 
commerce, any food consumer product whose label does not conform to the provisions 
of this Act. 
SECTION 7. Penalties - Any person who shall violate the provisions of this Act 
shall be subject to a fine of not less than One Thousand Pesos (P1,OOO.OO) 
but not 
more than Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,OOO.OO) or imprisonment of not less that six 
(6) months but not more than four (4) years or both, at the discretion of the court. 
SECTION 8. 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 and subsisting. 
SECTION 9. 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 10. Effectivity Clause ---- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved. 
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