FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Sewage sludge is an end product of the wastewater treatment process. This 
material can be a wonderful source of nutrients for the soil. Using this material as 
a fertilizer can benefit the environment by turning wastes into valuable resources. 
These sludges would otherwise have to be disposed of by landfilling, lagooning, 
incineration, or ocean dumping. On the other hand, heavy metals sometimes 
found in sewage sludge may present environmental problems.. .Concerns about 
applying sludge to land include the potential for applying too much or too little of 
each nutrient; the presence of toxic constituents; and the possible dehimental 
effects on water quality from leaching, erosion, or runoff losses.* 
In addition to the environmental problems they pose, the United States Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) has said that sewage sludge has constituents which ". ..may include 
volatiles, organic solids, nutrients, disease-causing pathogenic organisms (bacteria, viruses, etc.), 
heavy metals and inorganic ions, and toxic organic chemicals from industrial wastes, household 
chemicals and pesticides." 
Hence, although sewage sludge - after it is treated properly wastewater treatment plants - 
can be useful and potent fertilizer, it is still important for food produced using fertilizer from 
such sewage sludge to be labeled accordingly for the information of consumers. This bill seeks to 
accomplish that. 
IRIAM DEFENSOR SANTIAGO 
4 
* http://www.aces.edu/crd/publications/ANR-721 
.html 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPmLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING THE PROPER LABELING OF FOOD PRODUCED FROM THE USE OF 
FERTILIZER MADE FROM RECYCLED SEWAGE SLUDGE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as “Use of Sewage Sludge Fertilizer 
in Food Awareness Act of 2007.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote the general 
welfare of the people. Pursuant to this policy, this Act seek to require the proper labeling of food 
produced from the use of fertilizer made from recycled sewage sludge. 
SECTION 3. Labeling Required for Food Produced with Fertilizer Derived from Sewage 
Sludge. -No food shall be offered or exposed for sale without being so labeled if such food was 
produced from the use of fertilizer made from recycled sewage sludge. 
The provisions of this section shall apply to all plant foods produced from such 
fertilizer and all animal foods or products, including but not limited to meat and dairy products, 
derived from animals to which any feed product derived from such fertilizer has been fed 
SECTION 4. Procedure in Cases of Violation. - Whenever there shall he a violation of 
this Act, an application may be made by the Secretary of the Department of Health or his 
authorized agent, to the court having jurisdiction by a special proceeding to issue an injunction, 
and upon notice to the respondent of not less than five (5) days, to enjoin and restrain the 
continuance of such violations; and if it shall appear to the satisfaction of the court that the 
respondent has, in fact, violated this Act, an injunction may be issued by such court or 
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justice, enjoining and restraining any further violation, without requiring proof that any 
person has, in fact, been injured or damaged thereby. 
SECTION 5. Penalties. - Whenever the court shall determine that a violation of this Act 
has occurred, the court may impose a fine of Two Thousand Pesos (F'2,OOO.OO) for each day that 
such violation occurs, but in no event shall the total penalty exceed Ten Thousand Pesos 
(Pl0,OOO.OO). In connection with any such application, the Secretary is authorized to take proof 
and make a determination of the relevant facts and to issue subpoenas in accordance with the 
Rules of Court. 
SECTION 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. 
SECTION 7. Repealing Cluuse. - 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 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
Irgs 
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