..., ,, 
1 _ 1 _  
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILPPINES 
) 
: 
18‘!jfJ I ) /  
First Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
S. No. 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article XIII, Section 12, provides that: 
The State shall establish and maintain an effective food and drug 
regulatory system and undertake appropriate health, manpower development and 
research, responsive to the country’s health needs and problems. 
Aspartame is, by far, the most dangerous substance on the market that is added to foods. 
Aspartame is the technical name for the brand names, NutraSweetO, EqualO, SpoonfulO, and 
Equal-Measurea. Aspartame is made up of three chemicals: aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and 
methanol. 
Aspartame accounts for over 75 percent (75%) of the adverse reactions to food additives 
reported to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Many of these reactions are very 
serious including seizures and death as recently disclosed in a February 1994 U.S. Department of 
Health and Human Services report. 
A few of the 90 different documented symptoms listed in the report as being caused by 
aspartame includes headaches/migraines, dizziness, seizures, nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, 
weight gain, rashes, depression, fatigue, irritability, tachycardia, insomnia, vision problems, 
bearing loss, heart palpitations, breathing difficulties, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, loss of 
taste, tinnitus, vertigo, memory loss, and joint pain. 
According to researchers and physicians studying the adverse effects of aspartame, the 
following chronic illness can be trigged or worsened by ingesting of aspartame: brain tumor, 
multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, mental 
retardation, lymphoma, birth defects fibromyalgia, and diabetes. 
This proposed measure seeks to ban and prohibit the use of “aspartame” on food, 
beverages and drugs and the sale and distribution ,of artificial sweeteners or sugar substitutes 


such as NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, Equal-Measure and other brand names with similar 
contents. 
In view of addressing the hazard brought by these artificial sweeteners to our people's 
health, immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought.* 
* This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, Second Regular Session. 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
I 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
;,;; 16 :‘,a 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
PROHIBITING THE USE OF “ASPARTAME” ON FOOD, BEVERAGES, AND 
DRUGS 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 “Aspartame Ban Act of 
2007.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to establish and 
maintain an effective food and drug regulatory system and undertake appropriate health 
manpower development and research, responsive to the country’s health needs and problems. 
SECTION 3. Prohibition on the Use of “Aspartame”. - It is hereby declared prohibited 
to use “aspartame” on food, beverages and drugs such as, but not limited to, instant breakfast, 
cereals, frozen desert, gelatin dessert, yogurt, juice beverages, milk drinks, shake mixes, cocoa 
mixes, coffee beverage, soft drinks, tea beverages, instant teas and coffees, tabletop sweeteners, 
topping mixes, wine coolers, breath mints, sugar-free chewing gum, multivitamins and 
pharmaceuticals and supplements. 
SECTION 4. Regulatory Power. - The Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) is hereby 
mandated to monitor the use of aspartame on selected food, beverages and drugs and to 
implement the provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 5. Penalties. -The penalty a fine ranging from One Hundred Thousand Pesos 
(PlO0,OOO.OO) to Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,OOO.OO) shall be imposed upon any 


1 
2 
9 
10 
11 
individual or officers of a manufacturing or distributing corporation or company who shall 
violate any of the provisions of this Act. 
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 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 8. EHectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
2