FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B, Rodriguez, Jr.

1075

House Bill No.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Constitution, Article 16, Section 9 provides:

“The State shall protect consumers from trade
malpractices and from substandard or hazardous products.”

Consumption of bottled water has increased markedly in recent years,
with thousands of households currently consuming bottled drinking water as
their source of drinking water.

Consumers are paying premium prices for bottled water based on the
assumption that itis of superior quality to their tap water.

Unfortunately, bottled water sold in the country is left unregulated. This,
certainly, is a cause of concem, as there exists a possibility that the bottled
water sold in the market is not of superior quality as claimed.

The purpose of this bill is to establish quality standards for mineral and,
carbonated and other bottled water, hence, immediate approval hereof is
earnestly solicited.

RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

1075

House No.

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:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Safe
Bottled Water Act.”

SEC 2. Definitions. - For the purpose of this Act:

1) The term “Director” means the Director of the Bureau of Food and
Drugs;

2) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Department of
Health.

SEC 3. National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for Bottled
Water. -

(A) (1) When the Director promulgates interim or revised national
primary drinking water regulations concerning maximum contaminants levels,
such regulations shall be applicable to all bottled drinking waters, including
mineral, spring, natural sparkling water and vended water.

(2) Not later than twelve (12) months after the date of enactment of this
section, the Secretary shall establish quality standards and definitions for
mineral water and carbonated water which include —

a) limits for total dissolved solids, sulfate, sodium and
trinalomethane content;


b) the Secretary shall insure that standards for mineral water and
carbonated beverages meet all established health-based
drinking water standards.

(B) Source Protection. - Not later than twelve (12) months after the
date of enactment of this section, the Director shall -
1) define ‘approved sources’ of bottled water;

2) establish criteria to determine the adequacy as well as the protection of
‘approved sources’ of bottled water including but not limited to -

a) minimum well construction standards;

b) minimum distance separation from upstream wastewater
discharges;

¢) minimum distance separation from abandoned wells, septic
tanks, waste impoundment and landfils.
(C) Monitoring, Reporting and Inspection. - Not later than twelve (12)
months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall -
1) establish a bottled water monitoring program which at a minimum-

a) is as stringent as that used for public water supplies and

provides for yearly testing and monitoring for unregulated
contaminants for which public water utilities must test, and

b) requires that any analysis or testing be performed in an
approved and certified laboratory.

2) establish a bottled water reporting program that includes -
a) time tables and procedures for timely reporting;

b) provide public notification procedures should a bottled water be
found to be in excess of health based standards;

¢) establish a national registry of bottled water facilities and their
most current reporting information, and

d) require that records of sampling and analysis be maintained at
the plant for not less that two (2) years and shall be available for
official review upon request,


3) establish a bottled water facility inspection program which includes at a
minimum two scheduled inspections a year and one unscheduled
inspection a year.

(D) Recall Regulations. - Not later than six (6) months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Director shall -

1) establish procedures and public notification guidelines for recall of a
bottled water product in excess of any health based standards.

2) Require each bottled water to develop and submit individual recall
notification and recall procedures.

(E) Prohibition of Dual Use of Bottled Water Equipment. - Not later than
twelve (12) months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall
prohibit the processing and bottling of non-carbonated water with equipment
used to process milk, fruit juice or other food products likely to contribute
nutrients for microbiological growth.

(F) Bottling, Packaging and Storage Study. - The Director 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 Director shall pay particular attention to contamination

problems which may arise from the bottling, packaging or storage of bottled
water products.

SEC 4. Labeling. - Not later than six (6) months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall —

1) establish and enforce clear, concise, and un-coded uniform source
labeling requirements for all bottled water products which at a minimum
includes-

a) the original source of the water;

b) type of water;

¢) type of treatment, if any;

) the date of bottling;

e) the address of the bottler; and

f)_ provide numerical specification of sodium content.

2) 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
require that the definition for the appropriate product be placed on the
bottle.

SEC 5. Authorization of Funding. - There are hereby authorized to be
appropriated to the Department of Health and Bureau of Food and Drugs,
such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.

SEC 6. 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.

SEC 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation
contrary to or inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed,
modified or amended accordingly.

SEC 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.