RECEIVED

cane, YUL_2 5
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

House Bill No,_ 2813

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Constitution, Article 16, Section 9 provides:

“The State shall protect consumers from trade malpractices and
from substandard or hazardous products.”

Consumption of bottled water has increased markedly in recent years, with
thousands of households currently consuming bottled drinking water as their source of
drinking water.

Consumers are paying premium prices for bottled water based on the assumption
that it is of superior quality to their tap water.

Unfortunately, bottled water sold in the country is left unregulated. This, certainly, is a
cause of concer, as there exists a possibility that the bottled water sold in the market is not
of superior quality as claimed.

The purpose of this bill is to establish quality standards for mineral and, carbonated
and other bottled water, hence, immediate approval hereof is earnestly solicited.

whelh RIGUEZ
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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

House Bill No, 2813

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING QUALITY STANDARDS FOR MINERAL, CARBONATED AND OTHER
BOTTLED WATER

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 "Safe Bottled Water Act’.

SEC.2. Statement of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to protect and promote the
health of the people. Towards this end, it shall ensure that potable, ‘safe and affordable
drinking water is available to all the people by adopting a comprehensive policy framework to
regulate the activities of mineral, carbonated and other bottled water businesses including
suppliers, distributors and sellers thereof.

SEC. 3. Quality Standards for Bottled Water. —

(a) The interim or revised national primary drinking water regulations concerning
maximum contaminant levels promulgated by the Director of the Food and Drugs
‘Administration (FDA) shall be applicable to all kinds of bottled drinking water, including
mineral, spring, natural sparkling and vended water.

(b) Within twelve (12) months after the date of the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary
of the Department of Health (DOH) shall establish quality standards and definitions for
mineral water and carbonated water which shall include:

1 Limits for total dissolved solids, sulfate, sodium and trihalomethane
content; and
2 As determined by established health-based drinking water standards.

SEC.4. Source Protection. — Within twelve (12) months after the date of the effectivity
of this Act, the Director of the FDA shall:
(a) Identify safe sources of bottled water; and
(b) Establish criteria to determine the adequacy as well as the protection of “approved
sources” of bottled water including, but not limited to:
1. Minimum construction standards for water wells;
2. Minimum distance separation from upstream wastewater discharges; and
3. Minimum distance separation from abandoned wells, septic tanks, waste
impoundment and landfills

SEC.5. Monitoring, Reporting and Inspection. — Within twelve (12) months after the
date of the effectivity of this Act, the Director of the FDA shall:
(a) Establish a bottled water monitoring program which, at a minimum, shall
1. Be as stringent as that used for public water supplies and which
provides for yearly testing and monitoring for unregulated contaminants
for which public water utilities must test; and


2. Require that any analysis or testing be performed in an approved and
certified laboratory.
(b) Establish a bottled water reporting program that shall:
1 Stipulate time tables and procedures for timely reporting:
2 Provide public notification procedures should any bottled water be
found to be in excess of health-based standards;

3. Establish a national registry of bottled water facilities and their most
current reporting information; and
4. Require that records of sampling and analysis be maintained at the

plant for not less than two (2) years and shall be available for official
review upon request.
(c) Establish a bottled water facility inspection program which includes, at a minimum,
two (2) scheduled inspections a year and one (1) unscheduled inspection a year.

SEC.6. Recall Regulations. — Within six (6) months after the date of the effectivity of
this Act, the Director of the FDA shall:

(a) Establish procedures and public notification guidelines for recall of a bottled water
product which fall below any health-based standard; and

(b) Require each bottled water manufacturer to develop and submit individual recall
notification and recall procedures.

SEC.7. Prohibition of Dual Use of Bottled Water Equipment. — Within twelve
(12) months after the date of the effectivity of this Act, the Director of the FDA shall prohibit
the processing and bottling of noncarbonated water with equipment used to process milk,
fruit juice or other food products likely to contribute nutrients for microbiological growth.

SEC.8. Bottling, Packaging and Storage Study. - The Director of the FDA shall
‘conduct a comprehensive study of contaminants and the extent to which they contribute to
the degradation of bottled water from the unique processing and storage of bottled water.
The Director shall pay particular attention to contamination problems which may arise from
the bottling, packaging or storage of bottled water products.

SEC.9. Labeling. — Within six (6) months after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of the DOH shall:

(a) Establish and enforce clear, concise, and uncoded uniform source labeling
requirements for all bottled water products which, at a minimum, includes:

(1) The original source of the water;

(2) Type of water;

(3) Type of treatment, if any;

(4) The date of bottling;

(5) The address of the bottler; and

(6) _ Provide numerical specification of sodium content.

(b) Define mineral water, spring water, naturally carbonated, naturally sparkling, well
water, natural well water, artesian water, natural artesian water, purified water, distilled
water, drinking water and all other variants of bottled water existing in the market, and
require that the definition for the appropriate product be placed on the bottle.

SEC.10. Appropriations. — The initial amount necessary to implement the provisions of
this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the FDA under the
DOH. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this
Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). — The DOH shall issue the IRR
for this Act within one hundred twenty (120) days from its effectivity,


SEC.12.  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 or subsisting.

SEC.13. 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.

SEC.14.  Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days afer its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,