TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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SENATE
s. B. No. 1286
senate
of flje ssc rftarj*
25 AUG 27 P2:20 
\
RECEIVED BV. /
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO
AN ACT
REQUIRING THE USE OF STANDARDIZED DATE LABELS ON CONSUMER 
PRODUCTS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7394 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "CONSUMER ACT OF THE PHILIPPINES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Republic Act No. 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines provides that it 
is the policy of the State to protect the interest of the consumer, promote general 
welfare and to establish standards of conduct for business and industry. The objectives 
of this Act are all focused on the welfare, protection and rights of all the consumers 
in the Philippines.
Many food and drug products available in the Philippine market lack 
standardized labeling formats, leading to confusion and potential health risks for 
consumers. Current regulations fall short in requiring clear and consistent information 
on product packaging, particularly regarding dates that are critical to consumer safety 
and product quality.
This proposed measure seeks to mandate a uniform labeling system for food 
and drug products. Specifically, it requires the clear and consistent use of the following 
terms: "Manufacturing Date," "Expiration Date," and, when applicable, "Best Before
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Date." The use of alternative or ambiguous phrases such as "use by," "consume 
before," or "best if used by" shall be expressly prohibited to avoid misinterpretation.
By establishing a clear and uniform system of date labeling, this measure aims 
to protect public health, promote consumer awareness, and improve regulatory 
compliance in the food and drug industries
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWF NCE "BONG" T. GO


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. B. No. ^^86
i?cuat£
^'iDffirp of tijc ^■.":;rinrp
25 AUG 27 P2:20
RECEIVED BV.
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO
AN ACT
REQUIRING THE USE OF STANDARDIZED DATE LABELS ON CONSUMER 
PRODUCTS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7394 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "CONSUMER ACT OF THE PHILIPPINES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. This Act shall be known as the "Standardization of Date Labels Act
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of 2025."
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Sec. 2. Article 76 of Republic Act No. 7394, otherwise known as the "Consumer
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Act of the Philippine^' is hereby amended to read as follows:
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"Art 76. Prohibited Act on Labeiing and Packaging - It shall be unlawful 
for any person, either as principal or agent, engaged in the SALE, 
DISTRIBUTION, MANUFACTURER labeling or packaging of any consumer 
product, to display, SELL or distribute or to cause to be displayed, SOLD or 
distributed in commerce any consumer product whose package or label does 
not conform to the provisions of this chapter.
ALL CONSUMER PRODUCTS THAT DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE DATE 
LABEL REQUIREMENTS AS PROVIDED IN THIS ACT SHALL NOT BE 
SOLD OR DISTRIBUTED IN THE MARKET AFTER JANUARY 1, 2026.


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The prohibition in this chapter shall not apply to persons engaged in the 
business of wholesale or retail distributors of consumer products OR
CONSUMER PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY 
AND DIRECTLY SHIPPED FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO CONSUMER 
BY MAIL OR OTHER DELIVERY SERVICE except to the extent that such 
persons:
(1) are engaged in the packaging or labeling of such
(2) prescribe or specify by any means the manner in which such products 
are packaged or labeled; or
(3) having knowledge, refuse to disclose the source of the mislabeled or 
mispackaged products."
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Sec. 3. Article 77 of the same Act is hereby amended by adding a new
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paragraph to be denominated a paragraph (i) to read as follows:
"Art. 77. Minimum Labeiing Requirements for Consumer Products. —
All consumer products domestically sold whether manufactured locally or 
imported shall indicate the following in their respective labels of packaging:
a) XXX
b) "xxx
g) country of manufacture, if imported; [and]
h) If a consumer product is manufactured, refilled or repacked under license 
from a principal, the label shall so State the-fact; AND
"I) ITS "MANUFACTURING DATE," "EXPIRATION DATE", AND IF 
APPLICABLE, THE "BEST BEFORE DATE". THE UNIFORM DATE LABEL 
MUST BE PRINTED CLEARLY AND LEGIBLY ON THE LABEL IN THE 
FOLLOWING ORDER: MONTH, DAY AND YEAR. THE DAY AND THE YEAR 
MUST BE WRITTEN IN FIGURES WHILE THE MONTH MUST BE 
WRITTEN IN WORDS. THE TEXT MUST BE SINGLE EASY-TO-READ TYPE 
STYLE USING UPPER- AND LOWER-CASE LETTERS IN THE STANDARD 
FORM. THE USE OF "USE-BY," "CONSUME BEFORE," "BEST IF USED BY"


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AND OTHER SIMILAR PHRASES MUST NOT BE USED AS DATE LABELS
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ON THE PACKAGING OF CONSUMER PRODUCTS.
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FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ACT, "MANUFACTURING DATE" REFERS TO
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THE DATE WHEN THE PRODUCT WAS PRODUCED OR MADE BY THE
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MANUFACTURER; "BEST BEFORE DATE" REFERS TO THE DATE WHEN
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THE QUALITY OF THE PRODUCT BEGINS TO DETERIORATE, BUT STILL
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ACCEPTABLE FOR CONSUMPTION BEFORE THE EXPIRATION DATE;
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AND "EXPIRATION DATE" REFERS TO THE DATE STATED ON THE LABEL
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OF FOOD, DRUG, COSMETIC, OR SIMILAR CONSUMER PRODUCT
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AFTER THE SAFETY, EFFICACY, QUALITY OR POTENCY MUST HAVE
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RUN ITS COURSE."
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"The following may be required by the concerned department in accordance
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with the rules and regulations they will promulgate under authority of this Act:
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a) XXX
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XXX
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e) XXX
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Sec 4. Article 84 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
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"SEC. 84. Additional Labeling Requirement for Food. — The following
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additional labeling requirements shall be imposed by the concerned department
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for food:
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"a) MANUFACTURING DATE, EXPIRATION DATE, AND WHENEVER
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APPLICABLE, THE BEST BEFORE DATE;
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"xxx
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"e) 
xxx."
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Sec. 5. Article 86 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
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"Art. 86. Labeling of Drugs. — The Generics Act shall apply in the labeling of
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drugs. THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION SHALL ENSURE THAT
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ALL DRUGS MANUFACTURED AND DISTRIBUTED LOCALLY SHALL
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HAVE "MANUFACTURING DATE/’ AND "EXPIRATION DATE" IN THEIR
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LABELS. THE UNIFORM DATE LABELS REQUIRED MUST BE PRINTED
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CLEARLY AND LEGIBLY ON THE LABEL IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER:
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MONTH, DAY AND YEAR. THE DAY AND THE YEAR MUST BE WRITTEN
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IN FIGURES WHILE THE MONTH MUST BE WRITTEN IN WORDS. THE
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TEXT MUST BE SINGLE EASY-TO-READ TYPE STYLE USING UPPER-
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AND LOWER-CASE LETTERS IN THE STANDARD FORM.
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FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ACT, "MANUFACTURING DATE" REFERS TO
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THE DATE WHEN THE PRODUCT WAS PRODUCED OR MADE BY THE
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MANUFACTURER; AND "EXPIRATION DATE" REFERS TO THE DATE
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STATED ON THE LABEL OF FOOD, DRUG, COSMETIC, OR SIMILAR
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CONSUMER PRODUCT AFTER THE SAFETY, EFFICACY, QUALITY OR
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POTENCY MUST HAVE RUN ITS COURSE."
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FOR PRODUCTS RECONSTITUTED PRIOR TO USE AND THOSE WHICH
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CAN BE ADMINISTERED MULTIPLE TIMES, THE LABEL SHALL
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INCLUDE THE PERIOD OF GUARANTEED SAFETY, EFFICACY, AND
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QUALITY OF THE RECONSTITUTED PREPARATION AFTER FIRST
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OPENING AT GIVEN STORAGE CONDITIONS."
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Sec. 6. Article 87 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
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"Art. 87. Additional Labeling Requirements for Cosmetics-----The following
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additional requirements may be required for cosmetics:
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"a) MANUFACTURING DATE AND expiry or expiration date;
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b) XXX
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c) XXX,"
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Sec. 7. Article 95 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows;
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"Art. 95. Penalties. —
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a) XXX
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XXX


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"C) ANY MANUFACTURER OR DISTRIBUTOR WHO VIOLATES THE 
PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 76, PARAGRAPH I OF ARTICLE 77, 
PARAGRAPH A OF ARTICLE 84, ARTICLE 86 AND PARAGRAPH A OF 
ARTICLE 87 OF THIS ACT SHALL BE PUNISHED WITH A FINE OF NOT 
LESS THAN TWENTY THOUSAND PESOS (P20,000.00) BUT NOT MORE 
THAN FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P50,000.00) OR IMPRISONMENT OF 
NOT LESS THAN THREE (3) MONTH BUT NOT MORE THAN TWO (2) 
YEARS, OR BOTH SUCH FINE AND IMPRISONMENT, AT THE 
DISCRETION OF THE PROPER COURT.
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"IF THE OFFENDER IS AN ALIEN, THE OFFENDER SHALL BE 
DEPORTED AFTER SERVICE OF SENTENCE AND PAYMENT OF FINE 
WITHOUT DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS.
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"IF THE VIOLATION IS COMMITTED BY A JURIDICAL PERSON, THE 
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND ALL PERSONS DIRECTLY 
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VIOLATION SHALL SUFFER THE PENALTY 
IMPOSED UNDER THIS SECTION."
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Sec, 8. Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of
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Trade and Industry, in coordination with the Secretary of Health, and the Director
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General of the Food and Drug Administration, shall issue the necessary rules and
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regulations for the effective implementation of the provisions of this Act,
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Sec. 9. If for any reason any part or provision of this Act is declared invalid or
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unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected thereby shall remain
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in full force and effect.
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Sec. 10. All laws, executive orders, issuances, decrees, rules and regulations
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inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are deemed amended,
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modified or repealed accordingly,
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Sec. 11. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
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Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.