SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
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Introduced by SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G, EJERCITO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
As enunciated in the 1987 Philippine Constitution, the State has ' 
the utmost duty to protect and promote the right to health of the people 
and instill health consciousness among them. 
Drinking clean water is a fundamental aspect of sound health. For 
this reason, consumers choose to buy bottled water thinking that is 
much safer than tap water. 
A number of bottled water brands exist in the market to supply the 
needs of consumers, 
However, there are no existing regulations that 
specifically monitor bottled water production and packaging. 
This bill seeks to set the quality standards for mineral, carbonated 
and bottled water with the end view of ensuring that bottled water is 
entirely safe for consumption. 
With the passage of this bill, consumers of bottled water will be 
protected from contaminants that could have adverse effects on their 
health, Hence, immediate passage of the bill is earnestly sought. 
E 
JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO 


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SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 1933 
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Introduced by SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G, EJERCITO 
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 of 2013". 
SECTION 2. Statement of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to 
protect and promote the health of the people. Towards this end, it shall 
ensure that potable, safe and affordable drinking water is available to all 
the people by adopting a comprehensive policy framework to regulate the 
activities of mineral, carbonated and other bottled water businesses 
including suppliers, distributors and sellers thereof. 
SECTION 3. Quality Standards for Bottled Water. - (a) The interim 
or revised national primary drinking water regulations concerning 
maximum contaminant levels promulgated by the Director of the Food 
and Drugs Administration (FDA) shall be applicable to all kinds of bottled 
drinking water, including mineral, spring, natural sparkling and vended 
water. 
(b) Within twelve (12) months after the date of the effectivity of this Act, 
the Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) shall establish quality 
standards and definitions for mineral water and carbonated water, which 
shall include: 
(1) 
Limits for total dissolved solids, 
sulfate, sodium and 
trihalomethane content; and 
(2) As determined by established health-based drinking water 
standards. 
SECTION 4. Source Protection. - Within twelve (12) months after 
the date of the effectivity of this Act, the Director of the FDA shall: 
(a) Identify safe sources of bottled water; and 


(b) Establish criteria to determine the adequacy as well as the 
protection of "approved sources" of bottled water including, but not 
limited to: 
(1) Minimum construction standards for water wells; 
(2) Minimum distance separation from upstream wastewater 
discharges; and 
(3) Minimum distance separation from abandoned wells, septic 
tanks, waste impoundment and landfills. 
SECTION 5. Monitoring, Reporting and Inspection. -- Within twelve 
(12) months after the date of the effectivity of this Act, the Director of the 
FDA shall: 
(a) Establish a bottled water monitoring program which, at a minimum, 
shall: 
(1) Be as stringent as that used for public water supplies and 
which provides for yearly testing and monitoring for unregulated 
contaminants for which public water utilities must test; and 
(2) Require that any analysis or testing be performed in an 
approved and certified laboratory. 
(b) Establish a bottled-water reporting program that shall: 
(1) Stipulate time-tables and procedures for timely reporting; 
(2) Provide public notification procedures should any bottled water 
be found to be in excess of health-based standards; 
(3) Establish a national registry of bottled water facilities and their 
most current reporting information; and 
(4) Require that records of sampling and analysis be maintained at 
the plant for not less than two (2) years and shall be available 
for official review upon request. 
(c) Establish a bottled water facility inspection program which includes, 
at a minimum, two (2) scheduled inspections a year and one (1) 
unscheduled inspection a year. 
SECTION 6. Recall Regulations. - Within six (6) months after the 
date of the effectivity of this Act, the Director of the FDA shall: 
(a) Establish procedures and public notification guidelines for recall of a 
bottled water product which fall below any health-based standard; and 
(b) Require each bottled water manufacturer to develop and submit 
individual recall notification and recall procedures. 
SECTION 7. Prohibition of Dual Use of Bottled Water Equipment. 
- Within twelve (12) months after the date of the effectivity of this Act, the 
Director of the FDA shall prohibit the processing and bottling of 
noncarbonated water with equipment used to process milk, fruit juice or 
other food products likely to contribute nutrients for microbiological 
growth. 
SECTION 8. Bottling, Packaging and Storage Study. - The Director 
I 
of the FDA 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. 
SECTION 9. Labeling. - Within six (6) months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the DOH shall: 
(a) Establish and enforce clear, concise, and uncoded uniform source 
labeling requirements for all bottled water products which, at a 
minimum, includes: 
(1) The original source of the water; 
(2) Type of water; 
(3) Type of treatment, if any; 
(4) The date of bottling; 
(5) The address of the bottler; and 
(6) Provide numerical specification of sodium content. 
(b) 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 all other 
variants of bottled water existing in the market, and require that the 
definition for the appropriate product be placed on the bottle. 
SECTION 10. Appropriations. - The initial amount necessary to 
implement the provisions of this Act shall be charged against the current 
year's appropriations of the FDA under the DOH. Thereafter, such sums 
as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall 
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
SECTION 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - The 
DOH shall issue the IRR for this Act within one hundred twenty (120) \ 
days from its effectivity. 
SECTION 12. 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 or subsisting. 
SECTION 13. 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 14. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen 
(15) days after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation. 
Approved,