SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 
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146 
Introduced by Senator Cynthia Villar 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
"13 
JUL -1 
P2 :47 
As expressly stated in Article II, Section 15, of the Constitution, it 
provides that "the State shall protect and promote the right to health of the 
people ~nd instill health consciousness among them." 
At present, there is no existing law requiring manufacturers, packagers, 
or distributors to indicate the nutritional value of food products on their labels. 
Due to the deluge of various food products in the market, there is an urgent 
need for consumers to be wary of such detail/s to be able to make well-
informed choices especially if it concerns health issues. 
This legislation is submitted with the following statistics as backdrop, 
highlighting its significance (Philippine Development Plan, 2011-2016): 
• 
Stunting and Wasting among children under 5 years old are at 
high levels at 32.2% and 7.5%. 
Stunting is an indication of 
prolonged deprivation of food and frequent bouts of infection. 
Wasting is an indication of lack of food or infection in the 
immediate past. 
• About 26.3% of pregnant women are nutritionally at risk. 
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Micronutrient deficiencies continue to be a health concern 
among young children. 
This bill, therefore, seeks to promote health consciousness among the 
public through proper labeling of nutritional contents in food products. In view 
of the foregoing, the urgent passage of this proposed measure is requested. 


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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBL,IC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
. '13 JUl -1 P2 :47 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 146 
Introduced by Senator Cynthia Villar 
AN ACT 
TO PRESCRIBE NUTRITION LABELING FOR FOOD PRODUCTS,AND 
PROVIDING FRAMEWORK FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION 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 "Philippine 
Nutrition Labeling Act of 2011." 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. -
It is hereby declared the policy of 
the State to ensure that consumers have access to accurate information as to the 
nutritional contents of food and food products to facilitate value comparison and 
promote a free market economy. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. -
(a) The term "label" means any written, printed, or graphic matter affixed 
to any consumer commodity or affixed to or appearing upon a package 
containing any consumer commodity. 
(b) The term "package" means any container or wrapping in which any 
consumer commodity is enclosed for use in the delivery or display of that 
consumer commodity to retail purchasers but does not include -
! 
(1) 
Shipping containers 
or wrapping 
used 
solely for the 
transportation of any consumer commodity in bulk or in quantity to 
manufacturers, packers, or processors, or to wholesale or retail 
distributors thereof; or 
(2) Shipping containers or outer wrappings used by retailers to ship 
and deliver any· commodity to retail customers if such containers 
and wrappings bear no printed matter pertaining to any particular 
commodity. 
(c) The term "food" means any material usually of plant or animal origin, 
containing or consisting of essential body nutrients, that must be taken in 
or assimilated by a person as nourishment to maintain life and growth. 
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SECTION 4. Requirements of labeling. -
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(a) The commodity shall bear a label specifying the identity of the 
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commodity and the name and place of business of the manufacturer, 
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packer, or distributor. 
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(b) The separate label statement of nutritional content shall appear its 
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conspicuous and easily legible type in distinct contrast by typography, 
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layout, color, embossing, or molding with other matter on the package. 
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(c) The label shall also contain the following; 
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(1) number of servings or other units of measure per container; 
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(2) the total number of calories derived from any source, and 
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derived from the total fat 
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(3) The amount of the following nutrients in each serving size or 
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other unit of measurement of food -
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"Total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates, 
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complex carbohydrates, sugars, dietary fiber, and total protein" 
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(4) any vitamin, mineral, or other nutrient required to be placed on 
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the label or labeling of food if it is determined that such information 
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will assist consumers in maintaining healthy dietary practices. 
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(d) If a food contains insignificant amounts, as determined by the Bureau 
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of Food and Drugs, of all the nutrients required to be listed in the label or 
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labeling of food, the requirements of such shall not apply to such food if 
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the label, labeling, or advertising of such food does not make any claim 
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. with respect to the nutritive value of such food. 
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(e) No packaged consumer commodity shall be distributed or caused to be 
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distributed in commerce unless it conforms with the regulations set by this 
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Act and established by the Bureau of Food and Drugs. 
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SECTION 5. Punishable Acts. -
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(a) It shall be unlawful for any person engaged in the packaging or 
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labeling of any consumer commodity for distribution in commerce, or for 
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any person engaged in the distribution in commerce of any packaged or 
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labeled consumer commodity, to distribute or to cause to be distributed in 
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commerce any such commodity if such commodity is contained in a 
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package, or if there is affixed to that commodity a label, which does not 
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conform to the provisions of this Act and of regulations promulgated under 
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the authority of this Act. 
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(b) This prohibition shall not apply to persons engaged in the business as 
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wholesale or retail distributors of consumer commodities except to the 
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extent that such persons (I)a re engaged in the packaging or labeling of 
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such commodities, or (2) prescribe or specify by any means the manner in 
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which such commodities are packaged or labeled. 
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SECTION 6. Consumer Education. - The Secretary of the Department of 
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Health with the Bureau of Food and Drugs shall carry out activities which educate 
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consumers about-
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(1) the availability of nutrition information in the label or labeling of food, 
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and 
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(21) the importance of that information in maintaining healthy dietary 
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p~actices. 
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SECTION 7. Separability Clause. -
If any provision, or part hereof, is 
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held invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not 
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otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. -
Any law presidential decree or 
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issuance, executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule of 
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regulation contrary to, or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby 
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repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) 
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days after publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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