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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ____________ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines continues to grapple with a wide range of health challenges, 
including the "double burden of malnutrition," or the simultaneous prevalence of 
undernutrition alongside rising rates of overweight and obesity. Over the past two 
decades, the proportion of overweight and obese individuals has steadily increased 
by an average of 0.73% per year. At the same time, a significant portion of the adult 
population continues to suffer from chronic energy deficiency, anemia, and vitamin A 
deficiency.1 
Among children, the situation is equally concerning. Only one in four children 
meets the recommended energy intake, while one in three Filipino children are 
stunted.2 Alarmingly, data from the Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS) show 
that one in ten children aged 5–10 years, and one in ten adolescents aged 10–19 
years, are already considered overweight.3 
Compounding this, data from the Department of Science and Technology–Food 
and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) reveal that Filipino adults consume 
significantly less fruits and vegetables than the recommended daily intake set by the 
World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).4 
These organizations recommend a combined fruit and vegetable intake of at least 400 
1 National Library of Medicine. The Double Burden of Malnutrition at the Individual Level Among Adults: A 
Nationwide Survey in the Philippines. Published on 15 November 2021. Available at 
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8634133/ (Accessed on 8 July 2025). 
2 EDCOM 2. 1 in 3 Filipino children stunted due to severe underinvestment, inadequate access to high quality 
childcare services -PIDS-EDCOM2 study. Published on 20 May 2024. Available at https://edcom2.gov.ph/l-in3-
filipino-children-stunted-due-to-severe-underinvestment-inadequate-access-to-high-quality-childcareservices-
pids-edcom2-study/ (Accessed on 8 July 2025). 
3 UNICEF. Curbing childhood obesity in the Philippines: Time tojunk thejunk (food). Published on 3 November 
2022. Available at https://www.unicef.org/philippines/stories/curbing-childhood-obesity-philippines-time-junkjunk-
food#:~:text=Unfortunately%2C%20children%20in%20the%20Philippines, %2C%20cancer%2C%20and%20hear
t%20failure (Accessed on 8 July 2025). 
4 DOST Food and Nutrition Research Institute. Pinoy adults, older persons need to consume more fruits and 
veggies - DOST-FNRl Pubiished on 10 June 2024. Available atb 
https://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph/index.php/57a4e3d9e_shPbl0178czs_s/a-qlmt_3c \(Accessed on 8 July 2025). 
September 1, 2025
8:00 am
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grams, or five servings per day.5 The WHO further warns that inadequate consumption 
of fruits and vegetables contributes to poor overall health and increases the risk of 
non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and 
certain cancers.6 In 2017 alone, an estimated 3.9 million deaths worldwide were 
attributable to insufficient fruit and vegetable intake.7 
This measure seeks to empower Filipino consumers with accurate and 
accessible health information to promote healthier eating habits and reduce diet-
related risks. To this end, the bill mandates food manufacturers to provide color-coded 
nutrition labels for pre-packaged products sold in retail outlets. These labels will allow 
consumers to easily determine whether a product contains high, medium, or low levels 
of fat, saturated fat, sugars, and salt. 
By instilling health consciousness and enabling informed consumer choices, this 
measure will contribute to reducing the burden of malnutrition, lowering the incidence 
of NCDs, and ultimately improving the health, productivity, and quality of life of 
Filipinos. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 
5 Ibid. 
6 World Health Organization. Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption to reduce the risk of noncommunicable 
diseases. Published on 9 August 2023. Available at https://www.who.int/tools/elena/interventions/fruitvegetables-
ncds (Accessed on 8 July 2025). 
7 Ibid. 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 
AN ACT 
MANDATING 
FOOD 
MANUFACTURERS 
TO 
DISPLAY 
COLOR-CODED 
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION ON FOOD PACKAGING 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 "Traffic Light Nutritional 
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Labeling Scheme on Food Packaging Act." 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State hereby recognizes that a healthy diet 
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is a foundation of good health and a crucial element in improving productivity and 
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overall well-being of all Filipinos. Recognizing that the prevalence of non-
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communicable diseases (NCDs) is aggravated by poor nutrition, among others, the 
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State shall instill health consciousness among Filipinos towards a desirable food 
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consumption pattern. The State shall also protect and promote the right of every 
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consumer to make informed decisions that can affect their short-term and long-term 
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health. Towards this end, the State recognizes that a color-coded scheme is effective 
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in helping consumers quickly convey information on the nutritional content/s of the 
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food products that they consume. 
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SEC 3. Definition of Terms. - For the purposes of this Act, the following terms 
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shall be defined as follows: 
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a) Food Product Package refers to the packet and package of food products
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that are for sale and distribution in the domestic market, importation, trade,
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and exchange, such as, but not limited to, packs, tins, boxes, pouches, flip-
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tops, slide and shell packages, and cartons;
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b) Nutrition facts refer to a statement or information on food labels indicating
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the nutrient/s and the quantity of said nutrient/s found or added in the
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processed foods or food products;
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c) Pre-packaged Food Products refer to foods that are sealed in food product
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package before being offered for sale; and
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d) Principal Display Surface means:  
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1) In the case of a package and carton that has at least two (2) equal 
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sized sides or surfaces, other than the top and bottom, that may be 
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displayed or visible under normal or customary conditions of sale or 
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use, the areas of each of the two (2) largest surfaces;  
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2) In the case of a spherical, cylindrical, or conical container of food 
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products, the two (2) largest surfaces that are predominantly 
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displayed; and  
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3) In the case of a package and carton that do not have a particular side 
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or surface that is predominantly displayed or visible under normal or 
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customary conditions of sale or use or those that are not described 
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under items (i) and (ii) above, fifty percent (50%) of the three (3) 
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dominant sides or the total surface thereof, whichever is bigger, which 
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will ensure that the color-coded nutritional information is visibly shown.  
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SEC. 4. Color Coding of Pre-Packaged Food. - All food manufacturers shall 
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provide color-coded nutrition facts of pre-packaged food products to be shown in the 
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principal display surfaces of food products.  
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The color-coded nutrition facts provided under this Act shall be categorized 
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based on the fat, saturated fat, sugar, and salt content of the food product, which shall 
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be represented by the following color codes:  
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a) Red, if the food product contains high level of any of the foregoing nutrients;  
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b) Yellow, if the food product contains medium level of any of the foregoing 
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nutrients; or  
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c) Green, if the food product contains low level of any of the foregoing nutrients. 
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Provided, That the portion of the principal display surface of the food packaging 
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dedicated to the color-coded nutritional information display shall not be lower than 
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fifteen percent (15%) of the surface area of the principal display surface: Provided, 
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further, That the nutrition labeling requirements under this Act shall not apply to pre-
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packaged condiments sold in the market: Provided, furthermore, That nothing herein 
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shall be construed to exempt food manufacturers from complying with existing 
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mandatory nutritional labelling laws and regulations.  
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SEC. 5. Determination of Nutrition Content of Foods and Certification 
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Quality Assurance. - The nutrition information provided by food manufacturers in all 
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food product packages shall be in accordance with the standards set by relevant 
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government agencies. For this purpose, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in 
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coordination with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Food and 
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Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) shall have the authority to require all food 
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manufacturers to submit sworn statements and relevant information to substantiate 
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their declarations.  
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SEC. 6. Transition Period. - All food manufacturers covered under this Act shall 
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have a period of one (1) year to comply with the provisions of this Act.  
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SEC. 7. Penalties. - All food manufacturers that fail to comply with any provisions 
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of this Act shall be subject to the following penalties:  
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a) First Violation - A fine of not less than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos 
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(P500,000.00), and an order to comply with the provisions of this Act within 
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two (2) months from the issuance of such order;  
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b) Second Violation - A fine of not less than One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00), 
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with an order to comply with the provisions of this Act within one (1) month 
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from the issuance of such order;  
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c) Third Violation - A fine of not less than Two Million Pesos (P2,000,000.00), 
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with an order to comply with the provisions of this Act within seven (7) days 
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from the issuance of such order; and  
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d) All subsequent violations shall be imposed a fine of not less than Five Million 
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Pesos (P5,000,000.00), and revocation of all relevant permits issued by the 
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FNRI and FDA, including revocation of business permit to operate within the 
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concerned local government unit. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, 
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the fines imposed under this Section shall be paid to the Department of Health 
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(DOH), which shall be utilized to initiate and execute campaigns relating to 
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nutrition education in public schools.  
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SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from 
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the effectivity of this Act, the DOH, DOST, and the Department of Trade and Industry 
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(DTI) shall, in consultation with relevant government agencies and stakeholders, 
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promulgate the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) to carry out the provisions of 
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this Act. 
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Failure of the relevant government agencies to promulgate the IRR within the 
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specified period shall subject the heads of these government agencies to 
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administrative penalties under applicable civil service laws.  
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Should the IRR contain provisions that are contrary to this Act, the heads of the 
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government agencies responsible for such provision, when done in bad faith or with 
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gross negligence, shall be held administratively liable. 
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SEC. 9. Separability Clause. – If any portion or provision of this Act is declared 
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unconstitutional, the remainder hereof or any provisions not affected thereby shall 
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remain in force and effect. 
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SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. – Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
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executive order, letter of instruction, rule, or regulation inconsistent with the provisions 
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of this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 11. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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