Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Rosanna “Ria” V. Vergara 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to provide for the mandatory labeling of milled rice for 
commercial distribution and impose penalties for violation thereof.  
Title III, Chapter IV of Republic Act (RA) No. 7394 or the Consumer Act of the 
Philippines, provides policies on labeling and marketing of consumer products. 
Under the said law, the Department of Trade and Industry shall enforce the 
provisions on labeling and packaging except with food, drugs, cosmetics, devices, 
and hazardous substances, which are handled by concerned departments. 
In the case of agricultural products such as rice and corn, the National Food 
Authority (NFA) was mandated to establish and enforce the national grains 
standards in collaboration with various sectors under Presidential Decree No. 4, 
Series of 1972, or the development of the rice and corn industry, and the creation 
of the National Grains Authority, RA 7394, and RA 10611, or the Food Safety Act 
of 2013. Hence, the NFA developed the Philippine Grains Standardization Program 
which prescribed the standard specifications on the quality, packaging, labeling, 
including test and analysis of rice and corn, and other grain commodities.  Under 
the program, all persons engaged in the wholesaling and distribution of rice must 
strictly observe the proper use of packaging materials, labels, and price tags on 
their products.  
However, in 2019, the enactment of RA 11203 lifted the quantitative 
restriction on rice import and repealed the regulatory and enforcement powers of 
the NFA.  Said law transferred the food safety functions of the NFA to the Bureau 
of Plant Industry, whose primary task is to safeguard the plant industry. 
June 1, 2021
5:05 pm
9563


2 
On the other hand, under RA 8435 or the Agriculture and Fisheries 
Modernization Act of 1997, the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards 
(BAFS) of the Department of Agriculture was tasked to formulate and enforce 
standards of quality in the processing, preservation, packaging, labeling, 
importation, exportation, distribution, and advertising of fresh and primary 
agricultural and fisheries products.  In 2019, the BAFS developed the Philippine 
National Standard for Grains-Grading and Classification of Paddy and Milled rice.  
This standard provides specific guidance to promote product quality and safety, 
ensure efficiency, and strengthen competitiveness in rice post-production and 
marketing, including the minimum requirements for labeling of milled rice.  Also, 
the Food Safety Act of 2013 vests upon the BAFS the responsibility to develop, 
adopt, amend or revise food safety standards and codes of practice for primary and 
post-harvest foods for the use of the DA in developing food safety regulations.  
The overlapping functions among different agencies regarding food safety 
and labeling resulted in severe confusion in the rice trading community.  Despite 
existing standards on rice labeling, compliance remains voluntary.  Wholesalers 
and distributors commonly ignore rice labeling policies because they are vague, 
and do not identify which government agency covers the implementation.  
Strengthening national policies in standard food labeling is paramount to 
maintain standards of quality, safety, identity, and origin, particularly when it 
involves the staple food for daily consumption.  Providing clear, valid, and reliable 
information could help consumers make smart choices.  This will also promote 
locally-produced rice, which was recorded as having the least pesticide among rice 
produced in other Southeast Asian countries, according to a study conducted by 
the International Rice Research Institute. Demand for local rice will increase and 
in turn, rice traders will be encouraged to source their supply from local farmers. 
More importantly, this measure aims to protect consumers, and prevent and 
penalize unfair, deceptive, and fraudulent rice trading practices such as mixing of 
local with imported rice or misbranding poor quality rice as high-grade to command 
higher prices.  
By providing adequate and specific measures on rice labeling, the proper 
implementing government agency is identified, responsible business conduct is 
encouraged, and consumer protection is achieved.  
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
ROSANNA “RIA” V. VERGARA 
Representative, Third District of Nueva Ecija


1 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Rosanna “Ria” V. Vergara 
AN ACT 
1 
PROVIDING FOR THE MANDATORY LABELING OF MILLED RICE FOR 
2 
COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION AND IMPOSING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION 
3 
THEREOF 
4 
5 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
6 
Congress assembled: 
7 
8 
SECTION 1.  Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Commercial Rice 
9 
Labeling Act.” 
10 
SEC. 2.  Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to promote the 
11 
rights and welfare of consumers.  The State recognizes the importance of providing 
12 
adequate and accurate information on food products, particularly rice, to assist the 
13 
public in making safe, healthy, and high-quality food choices.  Toward this end, 
14 
the State shall enforce proper and truthful labeling of milled rice and protect the 
15 
public from unfair and deceptive rice trading practices. 
16 
SEC. 3.  Coverage. – This Act covers all persons or entities engaged in the 
17 
business of wholesale, distribution or retail of milled rice.  For purposes of this Act, 
18 
9563


2 
 
milled rice refers to polished rice kernels obtained after removal of hull and bran, 
1 
to be sold domestically or internationally, whether imported or locally produced. 
2 
SEC. 4.  Commercial Rice Labeling Standards. – All persons engaged in 
3 
the business of wholesale, distribution or retail of milled rice shall affix a label to 
4 
the rice packaging material, whether in bulk or retail container, in accordance with 
5 
the standards provided in this Act, existing regulations issued under the Philippine 
6 
National Standard for Grains Grading and Classification of Paddy and Milled Rice, 
7 
and the minimum labeling requirements for consumer products provided under 
8 
Republic Act (RA) No. 7394, otherwise known as the “Consumer Act of the 
9 
Philippines.” 
10 
The label must indicate the following: 
11 
(a) Name of product; 
12 
(b) Grade of milled rice; 
13 
(c) Degree of milling; 
14 
(d) Date of milling; 
15 
 
16 
(e) Net weight; 
17 
 
18 
(f) Type/s of seed/s processed with corresponding composition percentages; 
19 
 
20 
(g) Place of origin; and 
21 
 
22 
(h) Name and place of business of the wholesaler or distributor.  
23 
 
24 
The required information provided in this Act must appear on the label in a 
25 
permanent, conspicuous, and legible print that is easily identifiable and in distinct 
26 
contrast with other words, design or statements in the rice package.  
27 
Unpacked milled rice for retail which is displayed in wooden or fiberglass 
28 
containers in any place of commerce shall be labeled in accordance with the 
29 
standards provided in this Act.  The label shall be printed in bold letters and figures 
30 
near the price tag, and conspicuously displayed on the rice containers. 
31 


3 
 
SEC. 5.  Sworn Declaration. – Before being allowed to distribute the milled 
1 
rice in commerce, all wholesalers or distributors are required to submit to the 
2 
Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS) a sworn affidavit attesting 
3 
to the truthfulness of the required information on the label of milled rice.  The BAFS 
4 
shall issue a labeling standard certification mark to the wholesaler or distributor 
5 
upon evaluation and determination of compliance with the standards provided 
6 
herein.    
7 
SEC. 6.  Prohibited Acts. – It is unlawful for any person engaged in the 
8 
business of wholesale, distribution or retail of milled rice to display, sell, or 
9 
distribute the milled rice without a label or if the label in the packaging or container 
10 
of the milled rice does not conform to the provisions of this Act.  
11 
It shall likewise be unlawful for any person engaged in the business of 
12 
wholesale, distribution or retail of milled rice to provide or cause to provide false or 
13 
grossly inaccurate information on the label.  
14 
SEC. 7.  Penalties. – Any person who violates Section 6 of this Act shall be 
15 
punished with imprisonment of not less than one (1) year but not more than five 
16 
(5) years, or a fine of not less than Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,000.00) 
17 
but not more than One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00), or both, at the discretion of 
18 
the court. 
19 
If the offender is an alien, the offender shall be deported after service of 
20 
sentence and payment of fine without further deportation proceedings. 
21 
If the violation is committed by a juridical person, the board of directors, 
22 
officers and all persons directly responsible for the violation shall suffer the penalty 
23 
imposed under this section. 
24 
SEC. 8.  Transitory Provision. – Within six (6) months after the effectivity 
25 
of this Act, all persons or entities engaged in the business of wholesale, distribution 
26 


4 
 
or retail of milled rice, shall label all their existing inventories of milled rice in 
1 
accordance with the standards as provided in this Act.  Thereafter, all inventories 
2 
of milled rice which do not conform to the new labeling standards provided in this 
3 
Act shall be considered as mislabeled subject to the penalties provided in Section 
4 
7 of this Act. 
5 
SEC. 9.  Implementing Agency. – The BAFS of the Department of 
6 
Agriculture shall, pursuant to its existing functions provided under RA No. 8435, 
7 
otherwise known as the “Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997,” 
8 
adopt and enforce the rice labeling standards provided under this Act. The BAFS 
9 
shall review every three (3) years and revise, if necessary, such standards to 
10 
supplement the labeling requirements for the effective implementation of this Act.  
11 
SEC. 10.  Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days 
12 
from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall, in coordination 
13 
with the Secretary of Trade and Industry, issue the necessary rules and regulations 
14 
for the effective implementation of this Act. 
15 
SEC. 11.  Repealing Clause. – All existing laws, orders, decrees, rules and 
16 
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
17 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
18 
SEC. 12.  Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
19 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
20 
 Approved,  
21