FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Studies by the United States Center for Disease Control show that most people carry in 
their bodies concentrations of a family of synthetic chemicals known as phthalates. Phthalates, or 
phthalate esters, are a group of chemical compounds that are mainly used as plasticizers or 
substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility. They are chiefly used to turn polyvinyl 
chloride from a hard plastic into a flexible plastic.* 
Phthalates are commonly found in plastics, pesticides, and personal care products like 
shampoos, soaps, and makeup. Exposure to phthalates has been linked to malformed sex organs 
in male lab animals. Alarmingly enough, a recent study revealed that there is a link between 
mothers exposed to phthalates and genital birth defects in male infants. 
As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pourid of cure. Thus, this bill 
seeks to avoid the hazardous effects of phthalates on children by prohibiting the sale of toys and 
other articles intended for children three (3) years of age and below. 
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plitlialates 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
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Iiitroduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
PROHIBIT” 
THE SALE OF TOYS AND OTHER ARTICLES CONTAINING 
PHTHALATES TO CHILDREN THREE (3) YEARS OF AGE AND BELOW 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTIION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Phthalate-Free Toy Act of 
2007.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is a policy of the State to protect the physical, 
moral and social well-being of children. Towards this end, the State shall prohibit the sale of toys 
containing phthalates to children three (3) years of age or below. 
SECTION 3. DeJinition of Phthalates. - For the purposes of this Act, the term 
“phthalates” means dialkyl or alkyl aryl esters of 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid including, but not 
limited to, dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, diallyl phthalate, di-n-propyl phthalate, di-n- 
butyl phthalate, diisobutyl phthalate, butyl cyclohexyl phthalate, di-n-pentyl phthalate, 
dicyclohexyl phthalate, butyl benzyl phthalate, di-n-hexyl phthalate, diisohexyl phthalate, 
diisoheptyl phthalate, butyl decyl phthalate, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, di(n-octyl) phthalate, 
diisooctyl phthalate, n-octyl n-decyl phthalate, diisononyl phthalate, diisodecyl phthalate, 
diundecyl phthalate, diisoundecyl phthalate, ditridecyl phthalate, and diisotridecyl phthalate. 
SECTION 4. Prohibition on the Sale of Toys Containing Phthalates; Penalties. - On or 
after one hundred and twenty (120) days from the passage of this Act, no toy or article intended 
for use by children three (3) years of age or younger if it contains any measurable amount of 
phthalates. 
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Any person found in violation of this Act shall be punished by a penalty of prision 
correctional, or a fine ranging from Ten Thousand Pesos (Pl0,OOO.OO) to Fifty Thousand Pesos 
(P50,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court, taking into consideration the circumstances 
of the case. 
If the offender is a corporation, trust or firm, partnership, association or any other entity, 
the penalty of imprisonment shall be imposed on the entity's responsible officers, including, but 
not limited to, the president, vice-president, chief executive officer, general manager, managing 
director or partner directly responsible therefor. 
SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If any part hereof, is held invalid or unconstitutional, 
the remainder of the provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rnle or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 7. Effectivily Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
/rgs 
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