Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS.
First Regular Session

5473

House Bill No.

Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representatives
Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” C. Villanueva and Domingo C. Rivera

AN ACT
REQUIRING THE DISPLAY OF CALORIE AND OTHER
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION IN MENUS OF FOOD SERVICE
ESTABLISHMENTS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In the past decade, cardiovascular diseases have been one of the leading
cause of mortality among Filipinos, which is largely attributed to an unhealthy
lifestyle. In addition, an unhealthy lifestyle also contributes to an increase in body
mass index, which’ in tum, increases the risk for non-communicable diseases.
According to a 2017 report, there are approximately 18 million Filipinos who are
obese and overweight. In 2016, the Philippines spent between US$500 Million to
USS1 Billion for obesity-related problems, which are largely due to a huge spike in
the incidence of related non-communicable diseases such as Type 2 diabetes,
cancer, cardiovascular diseases and stroke.'

Thus, there is a need to create policies that would encourage people to have a
healthier lifestyle and a mechanism to inform them of the calorie content and
nutritional information of the food they take. With the pressure of work and the
family, Filipinos often resort to eat out, whose food items usually have more calories,
sodium and saturated fat.

"2017, July 20. Obese Filipinos now ballooning. Retrieved from: https /businessmitror.com plv2017/07/20/abese-flipinos-now-
‘pallooning (date last accessed: July 7, 2019)


To address the problems of obesity and improper nutrition among Filipinos
and to encourage them to have a healthier lifestyle, this bill requires the disclosure of
calorie content in menus of food service establishments. Written nutritional
information may also be provided to the customer upon request. This bill requires
covered food establishments to prominently display this information so that
customers will be able to make a more informed decision towards a proper and
healthier lifestyle.

Hence, the immediate passage of this bill is eamestly sought.

arent
HON. EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA

5
D
-DOMING# C/RWERA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS.
First Regular Session

‘ 473
House Bill No.

Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representatives
Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” C. Villanueva and Domingo C. Rivera

AN ACT
REQUIRING THE DISPLAY OF CALORIE AND OTHER
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION IN MENUS OF FOOD SERVICE
ESTABLISHMENTS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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 “Menu Labeling Act."

SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following terms are
hereby defined:

a. Calorie content information refers the total number of calories per standard
menu item, as that item is usually prepared and offered for sale;

b. Covered food establishment refers to any food establishment that is part of a
group of fifteen (15) or more food service establishments doing business under
common ownership or control, or as franchised outlets of a parent business, or
that do business under the same name or that voluntarily register with the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) to be covered;

c. Food refers to a unit serving of ready-to-eat food or beverage for sale in a
restaurant or food service establishment;


d. Food-on-display refers to food offered for sale that is visible to a customer
before making selection, and needs no further preparation before consumption;

e. Menu refers to a printed list or pictorial display of a food item or items, and their
price(s), that are available for sale from a covered food service establishment
and shall include menus distributed or provided outside of the establishment,
specialty menus, such as drink and dessert menu, drive-thru and online menus;

f. Menu Board refers to any list or pictorial display of a food item or items and
their price(s) posted in and visible within a covered food service establishment;

g. Standard Menu Item refers to any individual food item or combination of food
items that is routinely listed on a menu or menu board, or routinely offered for
sale by a covered food service establishment.

SECTION 3. Disclosure of Calorie and Nutritional Information. - Covered food
establishments shall disclose and display the calorie content information of each
standard menu item on their menus and menu boards as usually prepared and sold
to the public. The calorie content information must be prominently and distinctly
displayed adjacent to the name or price of the menu item in a type size no smaller
than that of the name or price of the menu item, whichever is smaller.

Food establishments offering self-service food and food-on-display shall post the
nutrient content information of such food on a sign adjacent to such food.

In addition, menu and menu boards of all covered establishment must prominently
display the following: “Additional nutrition information available upon request.” Such
statement must appear prominently on the bottom of the menu board and may also
be placed on signs, posters, tray liners, counter cards, handouts, binders, kiosks, or
computer, as appropriate.

The written nutritional information shall indicate the amount of each nutrient,
including, but not limited to, the following:

a) Total fat;

b) Saturated fat;

c) Cholesterol;

d) Sodium;

e) Total carbohydrates;

f) Complex carbohydrates;
g) Sugars;

h) Dietary fiber; and

i) Total protein

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the mandatory disclosure and display of
calorie and nutrition information as required under this Section shall not apply to
custom orders prepared in a specific manner based on customer's request,
temporary menu item which appear in the establishment's menu board for less than


@WVOARON=

thirty (30) days per year, general use condiments, and foods that are part of a
customary market test or temporary menu items.

SECTION 4. Calorie Content Information. — The calorie content information of
each standard menu item shall be expressed to the nearest five-calorie increment up
to and including fifty (50) calories, to the nearest ten-calorie increment above fifty
calories. For foods that have fewer than five (5) calories, the declaration may be
expressed as zero (0).

SECTION 5. Transitory Period and Disclosure Compliance Certificate. —
Covered establishments shall have a period of one (1) year from the approval of this
Act to comply with the requirements herein provided. Thereafter, all covered
establishments must obtain a Nutritional Disclosure Compliance Certificate (NDCC)
from the Department of Health (DOH). The NDCC shall be valid for two (2) years
from the date of issuance and may be renewed at least thirty (30) days before its
expiration. The DOH may refuse to renew the NDCC of a covered establishment in
the event of violation or non-compliance of any provisions of this Act.

Failure of any restaurant of fast food chain establishment to secure a NDCC shall be
a ground for the suspension or revocation of its license to operate.

SECTION 6. Penalties. - DOH, after notice and hearing, shall impose a fine of not
less than Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00) but not more than Two Hundred
Fifty Thousand Pesos (P250,000.00) upon any covered establishment that fail to
comply with the requirements under this Act, or that is found to have knowingly
declared false or inaccurate nutrition information regarding the amount of calories or
nutrients contained in each standard menu item.

SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days from
the effectivity of this Act, the DOH and the FDA, in consultation with relevant
stakeholders, shall issue the rules and regulations for the effective implementation of
this Act.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act or any part thereof
shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions, as far as they are
separable, shall remain in force and effect.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or
parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 10. 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.

Approved,