CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES.
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

06 SEP 2012.

Ee

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House BILL No. 8540

Introduced by the HON. MARK A. VILLAR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines is taunted to have the longest holiday celebration in the world. It is said
that as soon as the month of September begins, the air starts to fill with the tell tale signs of the
holiday season. On radio, we hear the strings of Christmas carols; on television, we start to
witness advertisements of holiday items and programs with Christmas themes and all around
us, ordinary families are starting to air out the decors which they only placed in storage barely
eight months ago.

The most important feature of the Filipino holiday is the serving of holiday dishes which
are sought after in parties and other gatherings. Most of these savory holiday culinaria are made
of meat and meat food products which fill the mind and the spirit with nostalgia of past holidays
with family and loved ones.

It is unfortunate however that our holiday celebrations are often marred with news of
food poisoning and of incidents where double dead found in markets within and around the
metropolis. Commonly known as “Botcha” or hot meat, the product is not only of poor quality but
also a major health hazard for consumers.

Some crafty businesses have also resorted to processing “botcha” into meat products
such as longganisa, tocino, fapa, ham and siomai while some have been cut into pieces and
mixed with fresh meat for sale to the general public. Thus, it is essential that public interest be
upheld by assuring that meat and meat food products offered for sale are not only certified to
have passed the standards of meat inspection but also to be properly labelled in order to inform
the consumer of information which are needed to make a proper and healthy choice

Taking into consideration Article 2 Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution which requires the
State to protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness
among them, this bill institutes proper labeling of meat and meat food products, in order to
protect the public against deceptive, unfair and unconscionable sales of meat and meat
food products in the country.



CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

HOUSE BILLNO. 8549)

Introduced by the HON. MARK A. VILLAR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines is taunted to have the longest holiday celebration in the world. It is said
that as soon as the month of September begins, the air starts to fill with the tell tale signs of the
holiday season. On radio, we hear the strings of Christmas carols; on television, we start to
witness advertisements of holiday items and programs with Christmas themes and all around
us, ordinary families are starting to air out the decors which they only placed in storage barely
eight months ago.

The most important feature of the Filipino holiday is the serving of holiday dishes which
are sought after in parties and other gatherings. Most of these savory holiday culinaria are made
of meat and meat food products which fill the mind and the spirit with nostalgia of past holidays
with family and loved ones

It is unfortunate however that our holiday celebrations are often marred with news of
food poisoning and of incidents where double dead found in markets within and around the
metropolis. Commonly known as “Botcha’ or hot meat, the product is not only of poor quality but
also a major health hazard for consumers.

Some crafty businesses have also resorted to processing “botcha” into meat products
such as longganisa, tocino, tapa, ham and siomai while some have been cut into pieces and
mixed with fresh meat for sale to the general public. Thus, it is essential that public interest be
upheld by assuring that meat and meat food products offered for sale are not only certified to
have passed the standards of meat inspection but also to be property labelled in order to inform
the consumer of information which are needed to make a proper and healthy choice,

Taking into consideration Article 2 Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution which requires the
State to protect and promote the right to health of the people and_instill health consciousness
among them, this bill institutes proper labeling of meat and meat food products, in order to
protect the public against deceptive, unfair and unconscionable sales of meat and meat
food products in the country.


For the reasons stated above and in the interest of public health and welfare, the

passage of this bill is eamestly sought.
Me a

MARK A. VILLAR


CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

HOUSE BILLNO.G 540

Introduced by the HON. MARK A. VILLAR

AN ACT REQUIRING THE PROPER LABELLING OF MEAT AND MEAT FOOD PRODUCTS

Be it enacted by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Philippines in Congress
Assembled;

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as “Anti-Botcha Act of 2012.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect the
interest of consumers against deceptive, unfair, and unconscionable sales, acts and
practices, and to adopt measures to ensure the safe supply of meat and meat food products in
the country.

SECTION 3. Labeling of meat and meat food products. -

a. Mandatory Labeling. - The National Meat Inspection Service hereinafter referred to
as the NMIS shall provide by regulation that the following offered for retail sale bear a
label that identifies its place of origin:

1. Imported meat and meat food product imported into the Philippines shall
bear or shall be accompanied by labeling that identifies the place of origin. of the
animal that is the source of the imported carcass, or part thereof or meat that is part
of the contents of the imported meat food product;

2. Imported meat food product prepared in the Philippines using any
carcass, or part thereof, or meat imported into the Philippines shall bear or shall
be accompanied by a labeling that identifies the place of origin of the animal that is the
source of the imported carcass, or part thereof, or meat;

3. Muscle cuts of Philippine beef, Philippine pork, Philippine lamb, imported
beef, imported lamb, and imported pork; and,

4. Ground beef, ground lamb, and ground pork


b, Audit Verification System for Philippine and imported Muscle Cuts of Beef,
Lamb, and Pork and Ground Beef, Lamb, and Pork. -The NMIS may require by
regulation any person that prepares, stores, handles, or distributes muscle cuts of
Philippine beef, imported beef, Philippine lamb, imported lamb, Philippine pork, imported
ground beef, ground lamb, or ground pork for retail sale to maintain venfiable record
keeping audit trail that will permit the NMIS to ensure compliance with the regulations
promulgated under subsection (a). For this purpose, the term “place of origin" means the locality
or country in which an animal is raised before slaughter or where the animal was subsequently
slaughtered

SECTION 4. Packaging Requirement. - Any person who packages meat for sale
which has been treated using an additive, colorant, or any other method to enhance the
appearance of the meat, including but not limited to carbon monoxide, vitamin E, or any other
substance either approved or not by the Food and Drug Administration to improve the
appearance of the meat, shall include a clear, conspicuous, and easily readable label on
the packaging stating: THIS MEAT HAS BEEN TREATED TO ENHANCE ITS APPEARANCE.

SECTION 5. Public Education and Information Campaign. - A continuing
information and education campaign on the hazardous effects in the consumption of meat and
meat food products from dead or diseased animals shall be promoted by the National
Meat Inspection Service, in partnership with the Local Goverment Units and private sector.

SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Not later than thirty (30)
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the NMIS in consultation with the private sector

shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this
Act

SECTION 7. Improving Meat Inspection. - An amount of twenty percent (20%)
accrued from the fees, fines and charges collected by the National Meat inspection
Service shall be used for the improvement of its monitoring services including the
printing of information materials for the effective implementation of this Act.

SECTION 8. Penalties. - Any person who shall violate Section 4 of this Act shall upon
conviction, be subject to afine of not less than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) but not
more than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than six (6)
months but not more than two (2) years, 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 further deportation proceedings

The business license of an entity that violated any provision of this act shall be
revoked

SECTION 9. Disposal of confiscated meat and meat food products. - Any meat or
meat food products found to have been prepared, handled, packed, stored, transported or
offered for sale as human food not in accordance with the provisions of this Act shall be
confiscated and disposed of as provided in the Implementing Rules.

SECTION 10. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is held
unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected
thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.


SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, orders, rules or regulations which are
inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby amended or
repealed accordingly

SECTION 12. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication

in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation, which
ever comes earlier.

Approved,