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I 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
S. No. 
0 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VLLAR JR. 
I 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2 provides: 
Section 15. The State shall protect and promote the right to health of 
the people and instill health consciousness among them. 
Meat and meat food products are an important source of the nation's total supply of food. 
It is essential in the public interest that the health and welfare of consumers be protected by 
assuring that imported meat and imported meat food products offered for retail sale bear a label 
that identifies its country of origin. 
This bill requires the labeling of imported meat and meat food products, in order to 
protect the public against deceptive, unfair and unconscionable sales of imported meat and meat 
food products in the country. 
A 


I 
t 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 
50 
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INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR JR. 
AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE LABELING OF IMPORTED MEAT AND MEAT FOOD 
PRODUCTS 
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 "Meat Labeling Act." 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect the interests of the 
consumer against deceptive; -unfair, and unconscionable sales acts and practices, and to adopt 
measures to insure pure and safe supply of imported meat and meat food products in the country. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term: 
(1) "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture. 
(2) "Country of origin" means the country or countries in which an animal is raised before 
slaughter. 
(3) "Label" means display of written, printed or graphic matter affixed to any imported meat or 
meat food products, its immediate container, or other suitable material affixed for the purpose of 
giving information as to identify its country of origin: 
(4) "Beef' means meat produced from cattle (including veal). 
(5) "Pork" means meat produced from hogs. 


(6) "Lamb" means meat, other than mutton, produced from sheep. 
(7) "Imported beef' means beef that is not Philippine beef, whether or not tile bee 
a quality grade issued by the Secretary. 
is graded wil 
(8) "Imported pork" means pork that is not Philippine pork. 
(9) "Imported lamb" means lamb that is not Philippine lamb, whether or not the lamb is graded 
with a quality grade issued by .the Secretary. 
(1 0) "Philippine Beef means beef produced Erom cattle slaughtered in the Philippines. 
Exclusion - The tern "Philippine beef does not include beef produced from cattle imported into 
the Philippines in sealed trucks for slaughter. 
(1 1) "Philippine Pork" means pork produced from hogs slaughtered in the Philippines. 
Exclusion. - The term "Philippine pork" does not include pork produced from hogs imported into 
the Philippines in sealed trucks for slaughter. 
(12) "Philippine lamb" means lamb produce from ship slaughtered in the Philippines. 
Exclusion. - The term "Philippine lamb" does not elude iamb produced from sheep imported into 
the Philippines in sealed trucks for slaughter. 
SECTION 4. Labeling of imported meat and meat food products. - 
(A) Labeling Required- 
(1) Imported meat and meat food product imported into the Philippines shall bear or are 
accompanied by labeling that identifies the country of origin of the animal that is the source of 
the imported carcass, part. thereof, or meat or is part of the contents of the imported meat food 
product. 


(2) Imported meat food product prepared in the Philippines using any carcass, part thereof, or 
meat imported into the Philippines shall bear or is accompanied by labeling that identifies the 
country origin of the animal that is the source of the imported carcass, part thereof, or meat 
(B) Mandatory Labeling- The Secretary shall provide by regulation that the following offered for 
retail sale bear a label that identifies its country of origin: 
(1) Muscle cuts of Philippine beef, Philippine pork, Philippine lamb, imported beef, imported 
lamb, and imported pork. 
(2) Ground beef, ground lamb, and ground pork. 
(C) Audit Verification System for Philippine and Imported Muscle Cuts of Beef, Lamb, and 
Pork and Ground Beef, Lamb, and Pork- The Secretary may require by regulation that any person 
that prepares, stores, handles, or distributes muscle cuts of Philippine beef, imported beef, 
Philippine lamb, imported lamb, Philippine pork, imported pork, ground beef, ground lamb, or 
ground pork for retail sale maintain a verifiable record keeping audit trail that will permit the 
Secretary to ensure compliance with the regulations promulgated under subsection (A). 
SECTION 5. Regulations. - Not later than one (1) year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary shall promulgate final regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 6. Penalties. -- Any person who shall violate any provision of this Act shall upon 
conviction, be subject to a fine of not less than One thousand pesos (P1,OOO.OO) but not more 
than Ten thousand pesos (P10,OOO.OO) or imprisonment of not less than two (2) months but not 
more than one (1) year, or both upon the discretion of the court. If the offender is an alien, he 
shall be. deported after service of sentence and payment of fine without further deportation 
proceedings. 
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any-provision, or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision shall remain valid and subsisting. 


SECTION 8. 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. 
SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (1 5) days after its publication 
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,