Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill Number__ 9719

Introduced by Representative ROLANDO G. ANDAYA, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Instilling healthy eating practices to improve nutrition across population is a
paramount public health concern. It is therefore important to provide consumers with
enough information pertaining to their food intake in order to help them make dietary
decisions that can improve their health.

A law that mandates the proper labeling of food products is necessary to
promote awareness on the importance of balanced diet and to assist people who are
‘on special diets or those who have food allergies to make suitable food choices to
manage their conditions.

By requiring proper labeling of food products, consumers are provided with
information that can assist them in better understanding the nutritional value of food
products and get ample warning on the presence of allergens. Proper food labeling
also enables consumers to compare similar food products so they can make healthy
food choices based on the relevant nutrition information.

Apart from promoting healthy eating practices among consumers, proper food
labeling also encourages food manufacturers to improve the nutrient profile of their
products. Proper food labeling encourages the food industry to take a greater role in
supporting public health goals.

Proper food labeling can save lives and cut healthcare costs. Approval of this
measure is earnestly requested.

ROLANDO G. ANDAYA, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

5719

House Bill Number

Introduced by Representative ROLANDO G. ANDAYA, JR.

AN ACT MANDATING THE NUTRITIONAL CONTENT LABELING OF FOOD
PRODUCTS, AND PROVIDING FRAMEWORK FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the 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 2015.”

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall protect and promote the
right to accurate health information of consumers in relation to the nutritional value
and content of food products available in the market. Towards this end, the State
shall ensure that food products are properly labeled to indicate their nutritional
contents and provide allergen declarations.

Section 3. Definition of Terms. —

(a) Food — shall refer to any material usually of plant or animal origin,
containing or consisting of essential nutrients that are consumed for
nourishment to maintain life and growth.

(b) Label - shall refer to any written, printed, or graphic matter affixed to any
consumer commodity or affixed to or appearing upon a package
containing any consumer commodity.

(c) Allergen — any product, substance or ingredient that contain certain
proteins that can potentially cause severe reactions in a food allergic


person, such as, but not limited to, milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish,
shellfish, soy, and wheat.

(d) Package — shalll refer to any container or wrapping in which any consumer
commodity is enclosed for use in the delivery 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.

Section 4. Coverage. — This Act is only applicable to food products that are
locally manufactured or imported and introduced in the Philippine market.

Section 5. Requirements of Labeling. —

(a) The commodity shall bear a label specifying the identity of the commodity
and the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer or
distributor;

(b) The separate label statement of nutritional content shall be printed
conspicuously and in distinct contrast by typography, layout, color,
embossing, or molding with other matters on the package.

(c) The label shall also contain the following:

(1) Number of servings or other units or measure per container;

(2) The total number of calories derived from any source and from the
total fat;

(3) The amount of the following nutrients in each serving size or other
unit of measurement for food: total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol,
sodium, total carbohydrates, complex carbohydrates, sugars, dietary
fiber and total protein;

(4) Any vitamin, mineral, or other nutrient required to be printed on the
label if it is determined that such information will assist the consumers
in maintaining healthy dietary practices;


(d) Where allergens are present, food products shall be labeled with
appropriate warning and advisory statements in bold fonts. Allergens in
the list of ingredients shall also be emboldened;

(e) If a food contains insignificant amounts, as determined by the Bureau of
Food and Drugs, of all the nutrients required to be listed in the label or
labeling of food, the requirements of such shall not apply to such food if
the label, labeling, or advertising of such food does not make any claim
with respect to the nutritive value of such food

(f) No packaged consumer commodity shall be distributed or caused to be
distributed in commerce unless it conforms to the regulations set forth by
this Act and established by the Bureau of Food and Drugs.

Section 6. Punishable Acts. —

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person engaged in the packaging or labeling of
any consumer commodity for distribution in commerce, or for any person
engaged in the distribution in commerce of any packaged or labeled
consumer commodity, to distribute or to cause to be distributed in
commerce any such commodity if such commodity is contained in a
package, or if there is affixed to that commodity a label, which does not
conform to the provisions of this Act and of regulations promulgated
under authority of this Act.

(b) This prohibition shall not apply to persons engaged in the business as

wholesale or retail distributors of consumer commodities except to the

extent that such persons (1) are engaged in the packaging or labeling of
such commodities, or (2) prescribe or specify by any means the manner
in which such commodities are packaged or labeled.

Section 7. Sanctions. —

After investigation, any of the following administrative penalties may be
imposed:

(a) The acceptance of a voluntary assurance of compliance or
discontinuance from respondent which may include any or all of the
following terms and conditions:

(1) An assurance to comply with the provisions of this Act and its
implementing rules and regulations;


(2) An assurance to recall, replace, or refund the monetary value of
products not properly labeled which were already distributed in the
market;

(b) The condemnation and seizure of the consumer product found to be
hazardous to health and safety;

(c) The imposition of administrative fines in such amount as deemed
reasonable by the Secretary of Health, which shall in no case be less
than Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000) and not more than Three Hundred
Thousand Pesos (P300,000) depending on the gravity of the offense, and
an additional fine of not more than One Thousand Pesos (P1,000) for
each day of continuing violation

Section 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Secretary of the
Department of Health with the Bureau of Food and Drugs and the Secretary of Trade
and Industry, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the
provisions of this Act.

Section 9. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part of this Act is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain
in full force and effect.

Section 10. Repealing Clause. — Alll laws, executive orders, issuances, rules
and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly

Section 11. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers
of general circulation.

Approved,