SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS ) fi 4 "
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) a
First Regular Session 7

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No, DLL

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article 2, Section 15 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides:

“The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and
instill health consciousness among them.”

Republic Act No. 7394, otherwise known as the “Consumer Act of the Philippines,”
was enacted to protect the interests of the consumer, promote his general welfare, and to
establish standards of conduct for business and industry. Article 77 of this Act provides for
the minimum labeling requirements for consumer products.

Genetically engineering food is a new way of producing foods — by taking DNA from
one species and inserting it into another. Given the huge complexity of the genetic code, no
one can possibly predict the effects of adding new genes into any organism or plant. It has
been reported that one genetically engineered food supplement (tryptophan) has Killed 37
North Americans and permanently disabled 1500. Many scientists feel that these foods have
not been properly tested and pose serious health risks.

Consumers have a right to know whether the food they purchase contains or was
produced with genetically engineered material. Thus, the bill seeks to require the labeling of
food, meat, and pouttry products that contains genetically engineered material

In view of the foregoing, immediate enactment of this proposed measure is earnestly
recommended.

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

juced by Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

531d

House Bill No.

AN ACT
REQUIRING FOOD, MEAT AND POULTRY PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN GENETICALLY
ENGINEERED MATERIALS BE LABELED ACCORDINGLY, 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 "Genetically Engineered Food
Right to Know Act."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall enforce compulsory labeling and fair
packaging to enable the consumer to obtain accurate information as to the nature, quality,
and quantity of the contents of consumer products and to facilitate his comparison of the
value of such products.

SEC 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act:

(a) "Genetically Engineered Materia! means material derived from any part of a
genetically engineered organism, without regard to whether the altered molecular or
cellular characteristics of the organism are detectable in the material;

(b) "Genetically Engineered Organism" means-

(1) an organism that has been altered at the molecular or cellular level by
means that are not possible under natural conditions or processes (including but not
limited to recombinant DNA and RNA techniques cell fusion, microencapsulation,
macroencapsulation, gene deletion and doubling, introducing @ foreign gene, and
changing the positions of genes), other than a means consisting exclusively of
breeding, conjugation, fermentation, hybridization, in vitro fertilization, or tissue
culture, and

(2) an organism made through sexual or asexual reproduction (or both)
involving an organism described in sub-clause (1), if possessing any of the altered
molecular or cellular characteristics of the organism so described,

(c) "Meat Food" means a carcass, part of a carcass, meat, or meat food product that
is derived from cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, or other equines and is capable of
use as human food
SEC. 4, Labeling of Genetically Engineered Material. -

(a) In General- This labeling requirement shalll apply to food, poultry, and meat products.

(b) All products enumerated in the preceding paragraph, domestically sold, whether
manufactured locally or imported, if it contains a genetically engineered material, or was


produced with a genetically engineered material, shall provide notices in accordance with the
folowing

1) Anotice as follows: "GENETICALLY ENGINEERED."

2) Anotice as follows: “THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS A GENETICALLY ENGINEERED
MATERIAL, OR WAS PRODUCED WITH A GENETICALLY ENGINEERED
MATERIAL.”

3) The notice required in clause (1) immediately precedes the notice required in clause
(2) and is not less than twice the size of the notice required in clause (2).

SEC. 5. Genetically Engineered Food -

(a) In General - A food shall be considered to have been produced with a genetically
engineered material if -

(1) the organism from which the food is derived has been injected (use of manure as
a fertiizer for raw agricultural commodities may not be construed to mean that such
commodities are produced with a genetically engineered material); or

(2) the animal from which the food is derived has been fed genetically engineered
material, or

(3) the food contains an ingredient that is a food to which clause (A) or (B) applies.
(b) Exceptions — This paragraph does not apply to food that—

(1) is served in restaurants or other establishments in which food is served for
immediate human consumption;

(2) is processed and prepared primarily in a retail establishment, is ready for human
consumption, which is of the type described in clause (A), and is offered for sale to
consumers but not for immediate human consumption in such establishment and is not
offered for sale outside such establishment, or

(3) is a medical food.
SEC. 6, Genetically Engineered Meat.

(a) In General ~ A meat food shall be considered to have been produced with a genetically
engineered material if-

(1) the organism from which the food is derived has been injected or otherwise
treated with a genetically engineered material;

(2) the animal from which the food is derived has been fed genetically engineered
material; or

(3) the food contains an ingredient that is a food to which subparagraph
(a) or (b) applies.

(b) Exceptions - This paragraph does not apply to any meat food that-

(1) is served in restaurants or other establishments in which food is served for
immediate human consumption; or


(2) is processed and prepared primarily in a retail establishment, is ready for human
consumption, is offered for sale to consumers but not for immediate human
consumption in such establishment, and is not offered for sale outside such
establishment.

SEC 7. Genetically Engineered Poultry Product.-

(a) In General ~ A poultry product shall be considered to have been produced with a
genetically engineered material if —

(1) the pouttry from which the food is derived has been injected or otherwise treated
with a genetically engineered material,

(2) the poultry from which the food is derived has been fed genetically engineered
material; or

(3) the food contains an ingredient that is a food to which subparagraph
(a) or (b) applies.

(b) Exceptions - This paragraph does not apply to any poultry product that-

(1) is served in restaurants or other establishments in which food is served for
immediate human consumption: or

(2) is processed and prepared primarily in a retail establishment, is ready for human
consumption, is offered for sale to consumers but not for immediate human
consumption in such establishment, and is not offered for sale outside such
establishment

SEC 8. Implementing Agencies. — The provisions of this Act and its implementing rules
and regulations shall be enforced by:

(a) the Department of Health with respect to food; and
(b) the Department of Agriculture with respect to products related to agriculture.

SEC 9. Penalties. -- Any person who shall violate the provisions of this Act shall be subject
to a fine of not less than Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00) but not more than One
Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but
not more than (2) two years or both, at the discretion of the court

SEC 10. 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.

SEC 11. Repealing Clause.- Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order,
letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the
provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.

SEC 12. Effectivity Clause.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,