FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
) 
First Regular Session 
SEN.bI.E 
S. No. i:!;j34 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 13, Section II states: 
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The State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health 
development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other 
social services available to all the people at affordable cost. There shall be priority 
for the needs of the under-privileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women, and 
children. The State shaH endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers. 
Lead is a neurotoxin that is particularly hazardous to young children, causing permanent 
neurological damage. High doses of lead can damage the nervous system, kidneys, and blood 
system and can even be lethal. Continuous low-level exposure causes lead to accumulate in the 
body and cause damage. It is particularly dangerous for babies, before and after birth, and for 
small children, because their bodies and brains are growing rapidly. Exposures to even very low 
levels of lead can cause brain function impairment. No level of lead exposure has been found to 
be safe for a developing child. 
According to a World Health Organization study, one possible source of contamination 
that has aroused concern is lead present in food containers. Depending on pH, mineralization and 
other factors, traces of lead may leach into food or drink from such containers. This is a matter 
that deserves legislative action to protect our health from a preventable health issue.' 
• This bill was originally filed in the 141h Congress. 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SEN~:f34 
S. No. ___ -=-
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO PREVENT EXCESSIVE LEAD CONTENT IN FOOD CONTAINERS 
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.... ;, 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Prohibition. - No person or entity shall manufacture, distribute, sell, or 
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offer for sale any food container (Containers) which contains more than six hundred parts per 
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million oflead. 
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SECTION 2. Monitoring. -
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) shall 
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monitor all food containers sold or distributed in the country. Monitoring shall include sampling 
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and testing to determine the lead levels in these containers. 
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SECTION 3. Excess Lead. - If the lead level that is tested by the DTI exceeds the 
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maximum allowable level, the department shall: 
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(A) Issue health advisory notices alerting them of the danger posed by the use of such 
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containers; and 
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(B) Notify the manufacturer and the distributor that such containers exceed the 
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maximum allowable lead level, and that it shall not be sold or distributed until further testing 
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proves that it is in compliance with the maximum allowable lead level. 
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SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or 
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parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or 
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modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any provision of this Act is 
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declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof which are not 
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affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
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SECTION 6. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
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following its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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