13TH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
c
.
 
S. No. 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VELAR, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill proposes to require all cigarette and cigar manufacturers to determine and print 
the levels of tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide that could be inhaled in a stick of cigarette or 
cigar as compared to acceptable levels. 
The purpose is to enable smokers or potential smokers to at least know precisely how 
much nicotine, tar and deadly carbon monoxide could be imbibed in smoking cigars or cigarettes. 
Such information may provide fair warning on the health risks of smoking as well as provide 
data on the amount of toxins spread by smokers on so-called secondary smoke. 
Approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
MANUEL B. VI LAR, JR. 
4. 


‘04 JJy 30 ;’a ;tJ4 
13TH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
,” 
SENAT 
-~~ 
-~ 
INTRODUCED 
BY HON. MANUEL B. VELAR, JR. 
AN ACT REQUIRING ALL CIGAlWTTE AND CIGAR MANUFACTURERS AND 
DISTRIBUTORS TO SCIENTIFICALLY DETERMINE AND TRUTHFULLY PRINT, 
ON EACH BOX OR PACK OF CIGARS OR CIGARETTES THAT THEY 
MANUFACTURE, DISTRIBUTE OR SELL WITHIN THE COUNTRY, THE LEVELS 
OF NICOTINE, TAR AND CARBON MONOXIDE THAT COULD BE INHALED IN 
SMOKING A STICK OF CIGAR OR CIGARETTE, AND PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR 
VIOLATIONS THEREOF 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Disclosure of Levels of Toxicity. - All cigar and cigarette manufacturers, 
packaging companies or distributors are required to scientifically determine and truthfully print, 
on each box or pack of cigars or cigarettes that they distribute or sell, the levels of nicotine, tar 
and carbon monoxide that could be inhaled in smoking a stick of cigar or cigarette, as compared 
to acceptable levels. 
SEC. 2. Ban on All Non-complying Boxes and Packs. - All distribution outlets or 
wholesale or retail stores shall be, prohibited from selling, distributing or storing any box or pack 
of cigars or cigarettes that does not comp y with the requirements under this Act. 
SEC. 3. Scope. - This Act shall cover all boxes or packs of local or imported cigars and 
cigarettes produced or packaged for distribution or sale within the territory of the Republic of the 
Philippines. 
SEC. 4. Implementing Agencies. - The lead agency in the implementation of this Act 
shall be the Department of Health. It shall determine, define and disseminate information 
regarding measurements, standards and studies following the requirements of this Act. The 
Department shall also be responsible for monitoring compliance with this Act and in supporting 
and coordinating with the police agencies in apprehending and prosecuting violators of this Act. 
SEC. 5. Penalties. - A fine of Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,OOO.OO) shall be imposed on any 
manufacturer, packaging entity, distributor, wholesale or retail store or distribution outlet for 
every count of violation of the provisions of this Act. For this purpose, every box or pack found 
without the required information or found with false or misleading information shall be 
considered one count of the violation. Any finished box or pack of cigar or cigarettes found 
without the required information in any retail or wholesale store or distribution outlet shall 
constitute prima facie evidence of the violation by the store owner or outlet owner of the 
provisions of this 
Act. Provided, That, should the non-complying box or pack of cigars or 
cigarettes be that of a local or imported brand registered for sale or distribution within the 


country, such box or boxes, pack or packs shall also constitute prima facie evidence of the 
violation by the registered manufacturer, packaging company, or distributor of the provisions of 
this Act. 
SEC. 6. Transitory Provisions. - All concerned manufacturers and packaging companies 
of cigars and cigarette, shall be allowed a period of one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act to 
comply with its provisions. All distributors, wholesale and retail stores and distribution outlets of 
cigars and cigarettes shall be allowed a period of one (1) year and six (6) months from the 
effectivity of this Act to exhaust its inventory of non-complying boxes and packs of cigars and 
cigarettes after which period the ban shall take effect. 
SEC. 7. Effectivity. - This Act. shall take a feat immediately upon approval hereof. 
Approved,