Nutrition Laws

1.
EO 51
Metro Manila— During the recently conducted Refresher Course on Infant and Young Child Feeding
(IYCF) and Mobilization of Community Support Group held last March 5-7, 2013 at Eurotel Hotel,
Makati City, Ms. Vicenta Borja of the Department of Health strongly advocates to the public to report
any Milk Code (Executive Order 51) violations and violators.
She said that the Milk Code aims to protect and promote safe and adequate nutrition for infants and
young children through the promotion and protection of breastfeeding; therefore, all products for infant
and young child feeding that are promoted and marketed in a way that may undermine breastfeeding is
strictly prohibited.
All health workers from all levels should read and understand the scope of this law and help monitor its
compliance, she added. Among the prohibitions she emphasized are the following: 1)do not promote
products covered by the Milk Code; 2) do not allow milk companies and their representatives to promote
their products within your health center/clinic/hospital, community/barangays; 3) do not post/accept
posters or other promotional materials from Milk Companies and use it in your health
center/clinic/hospital/health facility; 4) do not get sponsorships from Milk Company and their
representatives without requesting the permission from FDA; 5) do not request/accepts gifts of any sort
from Milk Companies and their representatives; 6) do not request/accept samples of products or
products covered by the Milk Code to Milk Companies and their representatives; 7)do not allow the
Milk Companies and their representatives to support/conduct activities in your communities/barangay
and cities; and 8) the Milk Code prohibits donations of products covered during emergencies.
Do not be afraid to report violations at www.milkcodephilippines.org. Your identity is strongly

protected by the Department of Health. Together we can help protect and promote breastfeeding in the
country.
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 51 October 20, 1986
ADOPTING A NATIONAL CODE OF MARKETING OF BREASTMILK SUBSTITUTES, BREASTMILK SUPPLEMENTS

AND RELATED PRODUCTS, PENALIZING VIOLATIONS THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
WHEREAS, in order to ensure that safe and adequate nutrition for infants is provided, there is a need to protect and
promote breastfeeding and to inform the public about the proper use of breastmilk substitutes and supplements and related
products through adequate, consistent and objective information and appropriate regulation of the marketing and
distribution of the said substitutes, supplements and related products;
WHEREAS, consistent with Article 11 of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, the present
government should adopt appropriate legislation to give effect to the principles and aim of the aforesaid International Code;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, CORAZON C. AQUINO, President of the Philippines, do hereby order:
Sec. 1. Title. This Code shall be known and cited as the "National Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, Breastmilk
Supplements and Other Related Products".
Sec. 2. Aim of the Code The aim of the Code is to contribute to the provision of safe and adequate nutrition for infants by
the protection and promotion of breastfeeding and by ensuring the proper use of breastmilk substitutes and breastmilk
supplements when these are necessary, on the basis of adequate information and through appropriate marketing and
distribution.
Sec. 3. Scope of the Code The Code applies to the marketing, and practices related thereto, of the following products:
breastmilk substitutes, including infant formula; other milk products, foods and beverages, including bottle-fed
complementary foods, when marketed or otherwise represented to be suitable, with or without modification, for use as a
partial or total replacement of breastmilk; feeding bottles and teats. It also applies to their quality and availability, and to
information concerning their use.
Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. For the purposes of this Code, the following definition of terms shall govern:
(a) "Breastmilk Substitute" means any food being marketed or otherwise represented as a partial or total replacement for
breastmilk, whether or not suitable for that purpose.
(b) "Complementary Food" means any food, whether manufactured or locally prepared, suitable as a complement to
breastmilk or to infant formula, when either becomes insufficient to satisfy the nutritional requirements of the infant. Such
food is also commonly called "weaning food" or "breastmilk supplement."
(c) "Container" means any form of packaging of products for sale as a normal retail unit, including wrappers.
(d) "Distributor" means a person, corporation or any other entity in the public or private sector engaged in the business
(whether directly or indirectly) of marketing at the wholesale or retail level a product within the scope of this Code. A
"primary distributor" is a manufacturer's sales agent, representative, national distributor or broker.
(e) "Infant" means a person falling within the age bracket of 0-12 months.
(f) "Health care system" means governmental, non-governmental or private institutions or organizations engaged, directly
or indirectly, in health care for mothers, infants and pregnant women; and nurseries or child care institutions. It also
includes health workers in private practice. For the purpose of this Code, the health care system does not include
pharmacies or other established sales outlets.
(g) "Health Worker" means a person working in a component of such health care system, whether professional or non-
professional, including volunteer workers.
(h) "Infant Formula" means a breastmilk substitute formulated industrially in accordance with applicable Codex Alimentarius
standards to satisfy the normal nutritional requirements of infants up to between four to six months of age, and adapted to
their physiological characteristics. Infant formula may also be prepared at home in which case it is described as "home-
prepared".
(i) "Label" means any tag, brand, mark, pictorial or other descriptive matter, written, printed, stencilled, marked, embossed
or impressed on, or attached to, a container of any product within the scope of this Code.
(j) "Manufacturer" means a corporation or other entity in the public or private sector engaged in the business or function
(whether directly or through an agent or an entity controlled by or under contract with it) of manufacturing a product within
the scope of this Code.
(k) "Marketing" means product promotion, distribution, selling, advertising, product public relations, and information
services.
(l) "Marketing personnel" means any person whose functions involve the marketing of a product or products coming within
the scope of this Code.
(m) "Sample" means single or small quantities of a product provided without costs.
(n) "Supplies" means quantities of a product provided for use over an extended period, free or at a low price, for social
purposes, including those provided to families in need.
Sec. 5. Information and Education
(a) The government shall ensure that objective and consistent information is provided on infant feeding, for use by families
and those involved in the field of infant nutrition. This responsibility shall cover the planning, provision, design and
dissemination of information, and the control thereof, on infant nutrition.
(b) Information and educational materials, whether written, audio, or visual, dealing with the feeding of infants and intended
to teach pregnant women and mothers of infants, shall include clear information on all the following points: (1) the benefits
and superiority of breastfeeding; (2) maternal nutrition, and the preparation for and maintenance of breastfeeding; (3) the
negative effect on breastfeeding of introducing partial bottle-feeding; (4) the difficulty of reversing the decision not to
breastfeed; and (5) where needed, the proper use of infant formula, whether manufactured industrially or home-prepared.
When such materials contain information about the use of infant formula, they shall include the social and financial
implications of its use; the health hazards of inappropriate foods or feeding methods; and, in particular, the health hazards
of unnecessary or improper use of infant formula and other breastmilk substitutes. Such materials shall not use any picture
or text which may idealize the use of breastmilk substitutes.
Sec. 6. The General Public and Mothers
(a) No advertising, promotion or other marketing materials, whether written, audio or visual, for products, within the scope
of this Code shall be printed, published, distributed, exhibited and broadcast unless such materials are duly authorized and
approved by an inter-agency committee created herein pursuant to the applicable standards provided for in this Code.
(b) Manufacturers and distributors shall not be permitted to give, directly, or indirectly, samples and supplies of products
within the scope of this Code or gifts of any sort to any member of the general public, including members of their families,
to hospitals and other health institutions, as well as to personnel within the health care system, save as otherwise provided
in this Code.
(c) There shall be no point-of-sale advertising, giving of samples or any other promotion devices to induce sales directly to
the consumers at the retail level, such as special displays, discount coupons, premiums, special sales, bonus and tie-in
sales for the products within the scope of this Code. This provision shall not restrict the establishment of pricing policies
and practices intended to provide products at lower prices on a long term basis.
(d) Manufacturers and distributors shall not distribute to pregnant women or mothers of infants any gifts or articles or
utensils which may promote the use of breastmilk substitutes or bottle feeding, nor shall any other groups, institutions or
individuals distribute such gifts, utensils or products provided by this Code.
(e) Marketing personnel shall be prohibited from advertising or promoting in any other manner the products covered by this
Code, either directly or indirectly, to pregnant women or with mother of infants, except as otherwise provided by this Code.
(f) Nothing herein contained shall prevent donations from manufacturers and distributors of products within the scope of
this Code upon request by or with the approval of the Ministry of Health.
Sec. 7. Health Care System
(a) The Ministry of Health shall take appropriate measures to encourage and promote breastfeeding. It shall provide
objective and consistent information, training and advice to health workers on infant nutrition, and on their obligations under
this Code.
(b) No facility of the health care system shall be used for the purpose of promoting infant formula or other products within
the scope of this Code. This Code does not, however, preclude the dissemination of information to health professionals as
provided in Section 8(b).
(c) Facilities of the health care system shall not be used for the display of products within the scope of this Code, or for
placards or posters concerning such products.
(d) The use by the health care system of "professional service" representatives, "mothercraft nurses" or similar personnel,
provided or paid for by manufacturers or distributors, shall not be permitted.
(e) In health education classes for mothers and the general public, health workers and community workers shall emphasize
the hazards and risks of the improper use of breastmilk substitutes particularly infant formula. Feeding with infant formula
shall be demonstrated only to mothers who may not be able to breastfeed for medical or other legitimate reasons.
Sec. 8. Health Workers
(a) Health workers shall encourage and promote breastfeeding and shall make themselves familiar with objectives and
consistent information on maternal and infant nutrition, and with their responsibilities under this Code.
(b) Information provided by manufacturers and distributors to health professionals regarding products within the scope of
this Code shall be restricted to scientific and factual matters and such information shall not imply or create a belief that
bottlefeeding is equivalent or superior to breastfeeding. It shall also include the information specified in Section 5(b).
(c) No financial or material inducements to promote products within the scope of this Code shall be offered by
manufacturers or distributors to health workers or members of their families, nor shall these be accepted by the health
workers or members of their families, except as otherwise provided in Section 8(e).
(d) Samples of infant formulas or other products within the scope of this Code, or of equipment or utensils for their
preparation or use, shall not be provided to health workers except when necessary for the purpose of professional
evaluation or research in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Ministry of Health. No health
workers shall give samples of infant formula to pregnant women and mothers of infants or members of their families.
(e) Manufacturers and distributors of products within the scope of this Code may assist in the research, scholarships and
continuing education, of health professionals, in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Ministry of
Health.
Sec. 9. Persons Employed by Manufacturers and Distributors Personnel employed in marketing products within the scope
of this Code shall not, as part of their job responsibilities, perform educational functions in relation to pregnant women or
mothers of infants.
Sec. 10. Containers/Label
(a) Containers and/or labels shall be designed to provide the necessary information about the appropriate use of the
products, and in such a way as not to discourage breastfeeding.
(b) Each container shall have a clear, conspicuous and easily readable and understandable message in Pilipino or English
printed on it, or on a label, which message can not readily become separated from it, and which shall include the following
points:
(i) the words "Important Notice" or their equivalent;
(ii) a statement of the superiority of breastfeeding;
(iii) a statement that the product shall be used only on the advice of a health worker as to the need for its use and the
proper methods of use; and
(iv) instructions for appropriate preparation, and a warning against the health hazards of inappropriate preparation.
(c) Neither the container nor the label shall have pictures or texts which may idealize the use of infant formula. They may,
however, have graphics for easy identification of the product and for illustrating methods of preparation.
(d) The term "humanized", maternalized" or similar terms shall not be used.
(e) Food products within the scope of this Code marketed for infant feeding, which do not meet all the requirements of an
infant formula but which can be modified to do so, shall carry on the label a warning that the unmodified product should not
be the sole source of nourishment of an infant.
(f) The labels of food products within the scope of this Code shall, in addition to the requirements in the preceding
paragraphs, conform with the rules and regulations of the Bureau of Food and Drugs.
Sec. 11. Quality
(a) The quality of products is an essential element for the protection of the health of infants, and therefore shall be of high
recognized standard.
(b) Food products within the scope of this Code shall, when sold or otherwise distributed, meet applicable standards
recommended by the Codex Alimentarius Commission and also the Codex Code of Hygienic Practice for Foods for Infants
and Children.
(c) To prevent quality deterioration, adulteration or contamination of food products within the scope of this Code,
distribution outlets, including the smallest sari-sari store, shall not be allowed to open cans and boxes for the purpose of
retailing them by the cup, bag or in any other form.
Sec. 12. Implementation and Monitoring
(a) For purposes of Section 6(a) of this Code, an inter-agency committee composed of the following members is hereby
created:
Minister of Health ........................................... Chairman
Minister of Trade and Industry .......................... Member
Minister of Justice .......................................... Member
Minister of Social Servicesl and Development ... Member
The members may designate their duly authorized representative to every meeting of the Committee.
The Committee shall have the following powers and functions:
(1) To review and examine all advertising, promotion or other marketing materials, whether written, audio or
visual, on products within the scope of this Code;
(2) To approve or disapprove, delete objectionable portions from and prohibit the printing, publication,
distribution, exhibition and broadcast of, all advertising promotion or other marketing materials, whether
written, audio or visual, on products within the scope of this Code;
(3) To prescribe the internal and operational procedure for the exercise of its powers and functions as well
as the performance of its duties and responsibilities; and
(4) To promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary or proper for the implementation of Section
6(a) of this Code.
(b) The Ministry of Health shall be principally responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the provisions of this
Code. For this purpose, the Ministry of Health shall have the following powers and functions:
(1) To promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary or proper for the implementation of this Code
and the accomplishment of its purposes and objectives.
(2) To call the assistance of government agencies and the private sector to ensure the implementation and
enforcement of, and strict compliance with, the provisions of this Code and the rules and regulations
promulgated in accordance herewith.
(3) To cause the prosecution of the violators of this Code and other pertinent laws on products covered by
this Code.
(4) To exercise such other powers and functions as may be necessary for or incidental to the attainment of
the purposes and objectives of this Code.
Sec. 13. Sanctions
(a) Any person who violates the provisions of this Code or the rules and regulations issued pursuant to this Code shall,
upon conviction, be punished by a penalty of two (2) months to one (1) year imprisonment or a fine of not less than One
Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00) nor more than Thirty Thousand Pesos (P30,000.00) or both. Should the offense be
committed by a juridical person, the chairman of the Board of Directors, the president, general manager, or the partners
and/or the persons directly responsible therefor, shall be penalized.
(b) Any license, permit or authority issued by any government agency to any health worker, distributor, manufacturer, or
marketing firm or personnel for the practice of their profession or occupation, or for the pursuit of their business, may, upon
recommendation of the Ministry of Health, be suspended or revoked in the event of repeated violations of this Code, or of
the rules and regulations issued pursuant to this Code.
Sec. 14. Repealing Clause. All laws, orders, issuances, and rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this
Executive Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 15. Separability Clause. The provisions of this Executive Order are hereby deemed separable. If any provision thereof
be declared invalid or unconstitutional, such invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect the other provisions which shall
remain in full force and effect.
Sec. 16. Effectivity This Executive Order shall take effect thirty (30) days following its publication in the Official Gazette.
Done in the City of Manila, this 20th day of October, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty-six
Policy - The Implementing Rules and Regulation of Republic
Act No. 10028
Section 1. Title - These rules shall be known and cited as the Rules and Regulations Implementing Republic Act No.100
as the "Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009.
Section 2. Purpose - These Rules are promulgated to prescribe the procedure and guidelines for the Implementation of
Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009 in order to facilitate the compliance therewith and to achieve the objectives there o
Section 18 of RA 10028.
Section 3. Construction - These Rules shall be liberally construed and applied in accordance with and in furtherance of t
objectives of the law. In case of conflict and/or ambiguity, which may arise in the implementation of these Rules, the age
concerned shall issue the necessary clarification.
Section 4. Declaration of Policy - The State adopts rooming-in as a national policy to encourage, protect and support the
breastfeeding. It shall create an environment where basic physical, emotional, and psychological needs of mothers and
fulfilled through the practice of rooming-in and breastfeeding. The State shall likewise protect working women by providi
healthful working conditions, taking into account their maternal functions, and such facilities and opportunities that will en
welfare and enable them to realize their full potential in the service of the nation. This is consistent with international trea
conventions to which the Philippines is a signatory such as the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against W
(CEDAW), which emphasizes provision of necessary supporting social services to enable parents to combine family obl
work responsibilities; the Beijing Platform for Action and Strategic Objective, which promotes harmonization of work and
responsibilities for women and men; and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which recognizes a child's inherent r
the State's obligations to ensure the child's survival and development. Breastfeeding has distinct advantages which ben
and the mother, including the hospital and the country that adopt its practice. It is the first preventive health measure tha
to the child at birth. It saves children from dying. It also enhances the mother-infant relationship. Furthermore, the practic
breastfeeding could save the country valuable foreign exchange that would otherwise be used for milk importation. Brea
unequalled as the best food for infants because it contains essential nutrients completely suitable their needs. It is also n
immunization, enabling the infant to fight potential serious infection. It contains growth factors that enhance the maturati
infant's organ systems' Towards this end, the State shall promote and encourage breastfeeding and provide the specific
would present opportunities for mothers to continue expressing their milk and/or breastfeeding their infant or young child
REPUBLIC ACT No. 10028
AN ACT EXPANDING THE PROMOTION OF BREASTFEEDING, AMENDING FOR THE

PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7600, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "AN ACT PROVIDING
INCENTIVES TO ALL GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE HEALTH INSTITUTIONS WITH
ROOMING-IN AND BREASTFEEDING PRACTICES 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 "Expanded Breastfeeding
Promotion Act of 2009".
Section 2. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 7600 is hereby amended to read as follows:
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State adopts rooming-in as a national policy to

encourage, protect and support the practice of breastfeeding. It shall create an environment
where basic physical, emotional, and psychological needs of mothers and infants are fulfilled
through the practice of rooming-in and breastfeeding.
"The State shall likewise protect working women by providing safe and healthful working
conditions, taking into account their maternal functions, and such facilities and opportunities
that will enhance their welfare and enable them to realize their full potential in the service of
the nation. This is consistent with international treaties and conventions to which the
Philippines is a signatory such as the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination
Against Women (CEDAW), which emphasizes provision of necessary supporting social
services to enable parents to combine family obligations with work responsibilities; the
Beijing Platform for Action and Strategic Objective, which promotes harmonization of work
and family responsibilities for women and men; and the Convention on the Rights of the
Child, which recognizes a child's inherent right to life and the State's obligations to ensure
the child's survival and development.
"Breastfeeding has distinct advantages which benefit the infant and the mother, including the
hospital and the country that adopt its practice. It is the first preventive health measure that
can be given to the child at birth. It also enhances mother-infant relationship. Furthermore,
the practice of breastfeeding could save the country valuable foreign exchange that may
otherwise be used for milk importation.
"Breastmilk is the best food since it contains essential nutrients completely suitable for the
infant's needs. It is also nature's first immunization, enabling the infant to fight potential
serious infection. It contains growth factors that enhance the maturation of an infant's organ
systems.
"Towards this end, the State shall promote and encourage breastfeeding and provide the
specific measures that would present opportunities for mothers to continue expressing their
milk and/or breastfeeding their infant or young child.
"Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following definitions are adopted:
"a) Age of gestation - the length of time the fetus is inside the mother's womb.
"b) Bottlefeeding - the method of feeding an infant using a bottle with artificial
nipples, the contents of which can be any type of fluid.
"c) Breastfeeding - the method of feeding an infant directly from the human
breast.
"d) Breastmilk - the human milk from a mother.
"e) Breastmilk substitute - any food being marketed or otherwise represented

as partial or total replacement of breastmilk whether or not suitable for that
purpose.
"f) Donor milk - the human milk from a non-biological mother.
"g) Expressed breastmilk - the human milk which has been extracted from the
breast by hand or by breast pump. It can be fed to an infant using a dropper,
a nasogastric tube, a cup and spoon, or a bottle.
"h) Expressing milk - the act of extracting human milk from the breast by hand
or by pump into a container.
"i) Formula feeding - the feeding of a newborn with infant formula usually by
bottle feeding. It is also called artificial feeding.
"j) Health institutions - are hospitals, health infirmaries, health centers, lying-in
centers, or puericulture centers with obstetrical and pediatric services.
"k) Health personnel - are professionals and workers who manage and/or
administer the entire operations of health institutions and/or who are involved
in providing maternal and child health services.
"l) Health workers - all persons who are engaged in health and health-related
work, and all persons employed in all hospitals, sanitaria, health infirmaries,
health centers, rural health units, barangay health stations, clinics and other
health-related establishments, whether government or private, and shall
include medical, allied health professional, administrative and support
personnel employed regardless of their employment status.
"m) Infant - a child within zero (0) to twelve (12) months of age.
"n) Infant formula - the breastmilk substitute formulated industrially in

accordance with applicable Codex Alimentarius standards, to satisfy the
normal nutritional requirements of infants up to six (6) months of age, and
adopted to their physiological characteristics.
"o) Lactation management - the general care of a mother-infant nursing

couple during the mother's prenatal, immediate postpartum and postnatal
periods. It deals with educating and providing knowledge and information to
pregnant and lactating mothers on the advantages of breastfeeding, the risks
associated with breastmilk substitutes and milk products not suitable as
breastmilk substitutes such as, but not limited to, condensed milk and
evaporated milk, the monitoring of breastfeeding mothers by health workers
and breastfeeding peer counselors for service patients to ensure compliance
with the Department of Health, World Health Organization (WHO) and the
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on the implementation of
breastfeeding policies, the physiology of lactation, the establishment and
maintenance of lactation, the proper care of the breasts and nipples, and
such other matters that would contribute to successful breastfeeding.
"p) Lactation stations - private, clean, sanitary, and well-ventilated rooms or

areas in the workplace or public places where nursing mothers can wash up,
breastfeed or express their milk comfortably and store this afterward.
"q) Low birth weight infant - a newborn weighing less than two thousand five
hundred (2,500) grams at birth.
"r) Nursing employee - any female worker, regardless of employment status,

who is breastfeeding her infant and/or young child.
"s) Mother's milk - the breastmilk from the newborn's own mother.
"t) Non-health facilities, establishment or institution - public places and

working places, as defined in subparagraphs (u) and (y), respectively.
"u) Public place - enclosed or confined areas such as schools, public
transportation terminals, shopping malls, and the like.
"v) Rooming-in - the practice of placing the newborn in the same room as the
mother right after delivery up to discharge to facilitate mother-infant bonding
and to initiate breastfeeding. The infant may either share the mother's bed or
be placed in a crib beside the mother.
"w) Seriously ill mothers - are those who are: with severe infections; in shock,
in severe cardiac or respiratory distress; or dying; or those with other
conditions that may be determined by the attending physician as serious.
"x) Wet-nursing - the feeding of a newborn from another mother's breast

when his/her own mother cannot breastfeed.
"y) Workplace - work premises, whether private enterprises or government

agencies, including their subdivisions, instrumentalities and government-
owned and -controlled corporations.
"z) Young child - a child from the age of twelve (12) months and one (1) day
up to thirty-six (36) moths.
Sec. 4. Applicability. - The provisions in this Chapter shall apply to all private enterprises as
well as government agencies, including their subdivisions and instrumentalities, and
government-owned and -controlled corporations.
Upon application to, and determination by, the Secretary of the Department of Labor and
Employment for the private sector, and the Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission for
the public sector, all health and non-health facilities, establishments and institutions may be
exempted for a renewable period of two (2) years from Section 6 of this Act where the
establishment of lactation stations is not feasible or necessary due to the peculiar
circumstances of the workplace or public place taking into consideration, among others,
number of women employees, physical size of the establishment, and the average number
of women who visit.
All health and non-health facilities, establishments or institutions which are exempted in
complying with the provisions of this Act but nevertheless opted to comply are entitled to the
benefits herein stated: Provided, That they give their employees the privilege of using the
same.
Sec. 10. Provision of Facilities for Breastmilk Collection and Storage for Health Institutions. -
The health institution adopting rooming-in and breastfeeding shall provide equipment,
facilities, and supplies for breastmilk collection, storage and utilization, the standards of
which shall be defined by the Department of Health. Health institutions are likewise
encouraged to set up milk banks for storage of breastmilk donated by mothers and which
have undergone pasteurization. The stored breastmilk will primarily be given to children in
the neonatal intensive care unit whose own mothers are seriously ill.
Section 6. A new Section 11, under a new Chapter, is added to read as follows:
CHAPTER III
Lactation Stations
Sec. 11. Establishment of Lactation Stations. - It is hereby mandated that all health and non-
health facilities, establishments or institutions shall establish lactation stations. The lactation
stations shall be adequately provided with the necessary equipment and facilities, such as:
lavatory for hand-washing, unless there is an easily-accessible lavatory nearby; refrigeration
or appropriate cooling facilities for storing expressed breastmilk; electrical outlets for breast
pumps; a small table; comfortable seats; and other items, the standards of which shall be
defined by the Department of Health. The lactation station shall not be located in the toilet.
In addition, all health and non-health facilities, establishments or institutions shall take strict
measures to prevent any direct or indirect form of promotion, marketing, and/or sales of
infant formula and/or breastmilk substitutes within the lactation stations, or in any event or
circumstances which may be conducive to the same.
Apart from the said minimum requirements, all health and non-health facilities,
establishments or institutions may provide other suitable facilities or services within the
lactation station, all of which, upon due substantiation, shall be considered eligible for
purposes of Section 14 of this Act.
Section 7. A new Section 12 is hereby added to read as follows:
Sec. 12. Lactation Periods. - Nursing employees shall granted break intervals in addition to
the regular time-off for meals to breastfeed or express milk. These intervals, which shall
include the time it takes an employee to get to and from the workplace lactation station, shall
be counted as compensable hours worked. The Department of Labor and Employment
(DOLE) may adjust the same: Provided, That such intervals shall not be less than a total of
forty (40) minutes for every eight (8)-hour working period.
Section 8. Section 11, which shall be under the renumbered Chapter IV of Republic Act No.
7600, is hereby amended to read as follows:
"CHAPTER IV"
"INFORMATION, EDUCATION AND RE-EDUCATION DRIVE"
"SEC. 13. Continuing Education, Re-education and Training of Health Workers and Health
Institutions.- The Department of Health with the assistance of other government agencies,
professional and nongovernmental organizations shall conduct continuing information,
education, re-education, and training programs for physicians, nurses, midwives, nutritionist-
dietitians, community health workers and traditional birth attendants (TBAs) and other health
worker on current and updated lactation management.
Information materials shall be given to all health workers involved in maternal and infant care
health institutions."
Section 9. Section 12 Information Dissemination and Educational Programs of Pregnant

Women and Women of Reproductive Age. - During the prenatal, perinatal and postnatal
consultations and/or confinements of the mothers or pregnant women in a health institution
and the health worker to immediately and continuously teach, train and support the women
on current and updated lactation management and infant care, through participatory
strategies such as organization of mothers' clubs and breastfeeding support groups and to
distribute written information materials on such matters free of charge.
"The Department of Health is hereby mandated to develop and provide breastfeeding
programs for working mothers whose employees are encouraged to avail of it as part of their
human resource development programs.
"To equip women of reproductive age with accurate information on maternal nutrition and
proper nourishment in preparation for successful and sustainable breastfeeding, the
Department of Health is likewise mandated to produce and make available relevant
information and programs which should be disseminated to all city, municipal and barangay
health centers.
"Employers are also highly encouraged to develop breastfeeding or lactation support

programs which main functions are to assess the needs of lactating employees with
adequate information regarding lactation management in the form of brochures, pamphlets
and other educational materials."
"SEC. 15. Integration of Breastfeeding Education in the Curricula. - To encourage and

promote breastfeeding, the Department of Education, the Commission on higher Education.
And the Technical Education, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
shall integrate in the relevant subjects in the elementary, high school and college levels,
especially in the medical and education, the importance, benefits, methods or techniques of
breastfeeding, and change of societal attitudes towards breastfeeding."
"SEC. 16. Breastfeeding Awareness Month. - To raise awareness on the importance of and
to further promote breastfeeding, the month of August in each and every year throughout the
Philippines shall be known as "Breastfeeding Awareness Month."
Section 12. A new Section 17. Is hereby added to read as follows:
"SEC. 17. Public Education and Awareness Program. - To ensure the meaningful
observance of breastfeeding month as herein declared, a comprehensive national public
education and awareness program shall be undertaken in order to achieve the following
objectives:
"a) To protect, promote and support breastfeeding in the Philippines as the

normal, natural and preferred method of feeding infants and young children;
"b) To guarantee the rightful place of breastfeeding in society as a time

honored tradition and nurturing value as well as a national health policy that
must be enforced;
"c) To provide information about the benefits and superiority of breastfeeding

and the high risks and costs of bottlefeeding;
"d) To generate awareness on, and full enforcement of, national and
international laws, codes, policies and programs on the promotion and
protection of safe and adequate nutrition for infants and young children by
promoting and protecting breastfeeding and regulating the marketing of
certain foods and feeding bottles, teats and pacifiers; and
"e) To instill recognition and support and ensure access to comprehensive,
current and culturally appropriate lactation care and services for all women,
children and families, including support for breastfeeding mothers in the work
force.
"The Department of Health shall lead in the implementation of the comprehensive national
public education and awareness program on breastfeeding through a collaborative
interagency and multi-sectoral effort at all levels."
Section 13. A new Section 18, which shall be under the renumbered Chapter V of Republic
Act No. 7600, is hereby added to read as follows:
CHAPTER V
Miscellaneous Provisions
"Sec. 18. Department of Health Certification. - Any health and non-health facility,
establishment or institution satisfying the requirements of Sections 6 and 7 herein relative to
a proper lactation station may apply with the local Department of Health office for a 'working
mother-baby friendly' certification. The Department of Health shall promulgate guidelines to
determine eligibility for such certification, which shall include an annual Department of Health
inspection to confirm the continued compliance with its standards.
"The Department of Health shall maintain a list of 'mother-baby-friendly' establishments,

which it shall make available to the public."
Section 14. Section 13 of Republic Act No. 7600 is hereby renumbered and amended to
read as follows:
"Sec. 19. Incentives. - The expenses incurred by a private health and non-health facility,
establishment or institution, in complying with the provisions of this Act, shall be deductible
expenses for income tax purposes up to twice the actual amount incurred: Provided, That
the deduction shall apply for the taxable period when the expenses were incurred: Provided,
further, That all health and non-health facilities, establishments and institutions shall comply
with the provisions of this Act within six (6) months after its approval: Provided, finally, That
such facilities, establishments or institutions shall secure a "Working Mother-Baby-Friendly
Certificate" from the Department of Health to be filed with the Bureau of Internal Revenue,
before they can avail of the incentive.
"Government facilities, establishments or institutions shall receive an additional appropriation

equivalent to the savings they may derive as a result of complying with the provisions of this
Act. The additional appropriation shall be included in their budget for the next fiscal year."
Section 15. A new Section 20 shall be added to read as follows:
"Sec. 20. Implementing Agency. - The Department of Health shall be principally responsible
for the implementation and enforcement of the provisions of this Act."
Section 16. Section 14 of Republic Act No. 7600 is hereby renumbered and amended to
read as follows:
"Sec. 21. Sanctions. - Any private non-health facility, establishment and institution which
unjustifiably refuses or fails to comply with Sections 6 and 7 of this Act shall be imposed a
fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos (Php50,000.00) but not more than Two hundred
thousand pesos (Php200,000.00) on the first offense.
"On the second offense, a fine of not less than Two hundred thousand pesos
(Php200,000.00) but not more than Five hundred thousand pesos (Php500,000.00).
"On the third offense, a fine of not less than Five hundred thousand pesos (Php500,000.00)
but not more than One million pesos (Php1,000,000.00) and the cancellation or revocation of
the business permits or licenses to operate.
"In all cases, the fine imposed should take into consideration, among others, number of
women employees, physical size of the establishment, and the average number of women
who visit.
"In addition, the Secretary of Health is hereby empowered to impose sanctions on health
institution for the violation of this Act and the rules issued thereunder. Such sanctions may
be in the form of reprimand or censure and in case of repeated willful violations, suspension
of the permit to operate of the erring health institution.1avvphi1
"Heads, officials and employees of government health and non-health facilities,

establishments and institutions who violate this Act shall further be subject to the following
administrative penalties:
"First offense - Reprimand;
"Second offense - Suspension for one (1) to thirty (30) days; and
"Third offense - Dismissal.
"This shall be without prejudice to other liabilities applicable under civil service law and
rules."
Section 17. Funding. - Government agencies, including their subdivisions and

instrumentalities, shall use their respective budget for gender and development or their
budgets for repairs, maintenance and materials acquisition to comply with Section 6 hereof.
Section 18. Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Health, as the lead agency, in
coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment, the Department of Trade and
Industry, the Department of Justice, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the
Department of Education, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Civil
Service Commission, the Commission on Higher Education, the technical Education and
Skills Development Authority and professional and nongovernmental organizations
concerned, shall issue within one hundred and twenty (120) days upon its effectivity the
rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
Section 19. Separability Clause. - If any clause, sentence, paragraph or part of this Act shall
be declared to be invalid, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall
remain in force and effect.
Section 20. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations or parts thereof which are not consistent with this Act are hereby repealed,
amended or modified accordingly.
Section 21. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation,
whichever comes earlier.
Approved,
(Sgd.) PROSPERO C. NOGRALES (Sgd.) JUAN PONCE ENRILE

Speaker of the House of President of the Senate
Representatives
This Act which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 1698 and House Bill No. 879, 4012 and
6076 was finally passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on December 16,
2009.
Republic of the Philippines

Congress of the Philippines
Metro Manila
First Regular Session
Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday the twenty-fourth day of July, nineteen hundred and
ninety-five.
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8172
AN ACT PROMOTING SALT IODIZATION NATIONWIDE AND FOR RELATED

PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as “An Act for Salt Iodization Nationwide (ASIN).”
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to protect and promote
the health of the people, to maintain an effective food regulatory system, and to provide the entire
population especially women and children with proper nutrition. For this purpose, the State shall
promote the nutritional fortification of food to combat micronutrient as a priority health program for
the nation.
SEC. 3. Purposes. — The purposes of this Act are to:
a) contribute to the elimination of micronutrient malnutrition in the country, particularly iodine

deficiency disorders, through the cost-effective preventive measure of salt iodization;
b) require all producers manufacturers of food-grade salt to iodize the salt that they produce,
manufacture, import, trade or distribute;
c) require the Department of Health (DOH) to undertake the salt iodization program and for its Bureau
of Food and Drugs (BFAD), to set and enforce standards for food-grade iodized salt and to monitor
compliance thereof by the food-grade salt manufacturers;
d) require the local government units (LGUs), through their health officers and nutritionists/dietitians,
or in their absence through their sanitary inspectors, to check and monitor the quality of food-grade salt
being sold in their market in order to ascertain that such salt is properly iodized:
e) require the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to regulate and monitor trading of iodized salt:
f) direct the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), in collaboration with the Technology and
Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC), to initiate, promote, and cause the transfer of technology for salt
iodization:
g) authorize the National Nutrition Council (NNC), the policy-making and coordinating body on
nutrition, to serve as the advisory board on salt iodization:
h) provide mechanisms and incentives for the local salt industry in the production, marketing and
distribution of iodized salt, and
i) ensure the sustainability of the salt iodization program.
SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act the following terms shall mean:
a) Micronutrient malnutrition — a disorder resulting from deficiencies vitamin A, iron, iodine and other
micronutrients which the body needs in minute quantities everyday.
b) Iodine deficiency disorder’s — a broad spectrum of deficiencies resulting from lack of iodine in the
diet which leads to the reduction of intellectual and physical capacity affecting everyone who is iodine-
deficiency and may manifest as goiter, mental retardation, physical and mental defects, and cretinism.
c) Food fortification — the addition of nutrients to processed foods at levels above the natural state.
d) Salt iodization — the addition of iodine to salt intended for human or animal consumption in
accordance with specifications as to form, fortificant, method, manner and composition as may be
prescribed by the BFAD
e) Food-grade salt — salt for human and animal consumption as distinguished from industrial salt.
f) Regulatory requirements — the provisions of all applicable laws, regulations, executive orders, and
other enactments related to food quality and safety, purity, nutritional composition, and other aspects
of food regulation or control.
g) Industrial salt — salt used in the treatment, processing, and/or manufacture of non-food commercial
products.
h) Manufacturer — one who products imports trades in and distributes salt.
i) Subsistence producer manufacturer — one who produces, trades in or distributes salt not exceeding
two metric tons (2 m.t) of salt per year.
j) Small producer/manufacturer — one who produces, imports trades in, or distributes salt ranging from
more than two metric tons (2 m.t.) to three hundred metric tons (300 m.t.) per year.
k) Medium producer manufacturer — one who products, imports, trades in, or distributes salt ranging
from more than three hundred metric tons (300 m.t.) to two thousand metric tons (2,000 m.t.) per year.
l) Large producer manufacturer — one who produces, imports trades in, or distributes salt exceeding
two thousand metric tons (2,000 m.t.) per year.
SEC. 5. Applicability. — (a) This Act shall apply to the entire salt industry, including salt
producers/manufacturers, importers, traders, and distributors as well as government and non-
government agencies involved in salt iodization activities.
(b) Iodized salt that conforms to the standards set by the BFAD to meet national nutritional needs shall
be made available to consumers Provided, That the implementation of this Act shall be enforced over
a staggered period of one (1) year for large and medium producers manufacturers, two (2) years for
small producers/manufacturers; and five (5) years for subsistence producers/ manufacturers.
(c) All food outlets, restaurants, and stores are hereby required to make available to customers only
iodized salt in their establishment upon effectivity of this Act. These establishments shall be monitored
with the help of the LGIs through its health officers and nutritionists/dietitians, or in their absence, the
sanitary inspectors to check and monitor the quality of food-grade salt being sold or served in such
establishments.
(d) In areas endemic to iodine deficiency disorders, iodized salt shall be made available Local
government officials at the provincial and municipal levels shall provide mechanisms to ensure
enforcement of this provision through ordinances and public information campaigns.
(e) All food manufacturers processors using food-grade salt are also required to use iodized salt in the
processing of their products and must comply with the provisions of this Act not later than one (1) year
from its effectivity. Provided, That the use of iodized salt shall not prejudice the quality and safety of
their food products: Provided, however, That the burden of proof and testing for any prejudicial effects
due to iodized salt fortification lies on the said food manufacturers/processor.
(f) Salt producers/manufacturers shall register with the BFAD, which shall maintain updated registry
of salt producers/manufacturers and shall monitor compliance with the salt iodization program.
(g) All food-grade salt shall be labeled in a manner that is true and accurate, not likely to mislead
purchasers and in accordance with the requirements prescribed by the BFAD.
(h) For a period of three (3) years from the effectivity of this Act, the DOH shall provide free iodized
salt to indigents residing in sixth class municipalities as may be allowed by their annual appropriations.
SEC. 6. Support to the Salt Industry. — The following agencies and institutions shall support the salt
iodization program through their respective internal programs.
a) the DTI is hereby required to assist and support local salt producers/manufacturers in upgrading their
production technologies to include iodization by helping them obtain soft loans and financial assistance
for the procurement of salt iodization machines, packaging equipment and technology and fortificant
and by ensuring the systematic distribution of the iodized salt in the market.
b) the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) shall assist the formation of cooperatives of local
salt producers/manufacturers in order that they can economically engage in salt iodization and
distribution of iodized salt:
c) the DOST in collaboration with the TLRC, shall develop and implement comprehensive programs
for the acquisition of design and manufacture of salt iodization machines and transfer of salt iodization
technology to small and subsistence local salt producers/manufacturers; and
d) the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other appropriate government
agencies shall identify areas that are suitable for use as salt farms with the purpose of protecting such
areas from environmental risks to ensure sustainability of iodized salt production.
SEC. 7. Public Information. — The benefits and rationale of the use of iodized salt shall be adequately
disseminated and promoted through organized, systematic and nationwide information campaign which
shall involve major sectors of society to be spearheaded by the DOH, in cooperation and coordination
with the LGUs and other agencies concerned, particularly the Department of Education, Culture and
Sports (DECS), the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), provincial science centers, private sector,
and students.
The implementing agency, in coordination with the PIA, shall seek the cooperation of the media sector
to assist in public information dissemination. Salt iodization and its benefits shall also be included and
given emphasis in all levels of health subjects in both public and private schools.
SEC. 8. The Salt Iodization Advisory Board. — The National Nutrition Council (NNC), as presently
composed, including representatives of the DENR, the medical profession and the salt manufacturers
shall serve as the salt iodization advisory board and shall function as the policy and coordinating body
on salt iodization programs and activities. It shall coordinate the efforts of all agencies concerned and
monitor the implementation of the provisions of this Act. It shall also submit an annual report to the
Congress of the Philippines on the progress of the salt iodization program and offer recommendations
for its improvements.
SEC. 9. Sanctions. — The procedures for imposing sanctions under this Act and for inspecting and
investigating the premises where any salt is received, held, manufactured, labeled, stored, displayed,
delivered, distributed, sold, or located, or where it is reasonably believed these activities are being
carried out or where salt is located, shall be in accordance with the provisions of republic Act No. 3720.,
otherwise known as the Food., Drugs and Cosmetics Act. As amended: Provided, That any person,
whether natural or juridical, who violates any of the provisions of this Act or any of the rules and
regulations promulgated for its effective implementation shall be punished by a fine of not less than
One thousand pesos (P1,000) nor more than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000): Provided,
however, That if the violation is committed by any officer, director or member of a business and a
juridical entity acting beyond the scope of his authority, such officer, director or member responsible
therefor shall be personally liable for the fine: Provided, further, That such violator shall suffer a
revocation of its business permit and/or a ban of its product from the market. Provided, finally, That the
BFAD, in coordination with the LGUs concerned, shall be authorized to impose and collect the fines
from the violators, and such collections shall accrue to the BFAD for its use in the implementation if
this Act.
SEC. 10. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall initially be
charged to the appropriations of the agencies concerned as may be appropriated, under the current
General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for its implementation shall
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The DOH in cooperation with the agencies
concerned shall formulate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this
Act within sixty (60) days from its approval.
SEC. 12. Separability Clause. — If any portion of this Act is declared invalid, the remainder of this Act
shall not be affected by such declaration and shall remain valid and enforceable.
SEC. 13. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation, whichever is earlier.
Republic of the Philippines Department of Health OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY San Lazaro
Compound, Sta. Cruz, Manila Tel. No.: 711.9502 / 711.9503 THE IMPLEMENTING RULES AND
REGULATIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8976 ENTITLED: “AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE
PHILIPPINE FOOD FORTIFICATION PROGRAM AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES” Pursuant to
Section 12 of Republic Act No. 8976, the following Implementing Rules and Regulations are hereby
formulated for the effective implementation of the said Republic Act by authorized officials and
representatives of the Department of Health (DOH), in consultation with other concerned government
agencies, non-government organizations, private sector and consumer groups. RULE I – TITLE
SECTION 1. This document shall be known as the “IMPLEMENTING RULES AND
REGULATIONS FOR THE PHILIPPINE FOOD FORTIFICATION ACT OF 2000” established by
Republic Act No. 8976. RULE II – DECLARATION OF POLICIES SECTION 1. In the
implementation of provisions of Rep. Act No. 8976, the government shall be guided always by the
provisions of Sec. 2 thereof, which provides as follows: SECTION 2. Declaration of Policies –
Section 15 of Article II of the Constitution provides that the State shall protect and promote the right
to health of the people and instill health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.
The State recognizes that nutritional deficiency problems in the Philippines, based on nutrition
surveys, include deficiency in energy, iron, vitamin A, iodine, thiamin and riboflavin. To a minor
extent, the Filipino diet is also deficient in ascorbic acid, calcium and folate. The State recognizes that
food fortification is vital where there is a demonstrated need to increase the intake of an essential
nutrient by one or more population groups, as manifested in dietary, biochemical or clinical evidences
of deficiency. Food Fortification is considered important in the promotion of optimal health and to
compensate for the loss of nutrients due to processing and/or storage of food. Food fortification,
therefore, shall be carried out to compensate for the inadequacies in Filipino diet, based on present
needs as measured using the most recent Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). RULE III –
DEFINITION OF TERMS SECTION 1. For the purpose of this Act, the following terms shall mean:
(a) Acceptable standards on food fortification – requirements for fortification set by the DOH through
BFAD in consultation with other concerned agencies and industry representative groups. (b) BFAD –
the Bureau of Food and Drugs of the Department of Health (c) Brown rice – palay form which the
hull has been removed. This is also known as “dehulled rice” or “husked rice.” (d) Cooking oil –
edible oil derived from vegetable sources intended for human consumption, including its use in food
preparation or in processing other food products. (e) DOH – stands for Department of Health (the lead
agency in the implementation and monitoring of the said Act). (f) Food service establishment – refers
to hotels, restaurants, carinderias, catering firms, hospitals and other related outlets, which serve or
sell food to customers. (g) Fortification – the addition of nutrients to processed foods or food products
at levels above the natural state. As an approach to control micronutrient deficiency, food fortification
is the addition of a micronutrient, deficient in the diet, to a food, which is widely consumed by
specific at-risk groups. (h) Fortificant – a substance, in chemical or natural form, added to food to
increase its nutrient value. (i) Glutinous rice – a special type of rice whose grains are white and
opaque in appearance. It coagulates into a sticky mass when cooked. (j) Importer – any person, natural
or juridical, that brings in food/food products from other countries for its own use or for
wholesale/retail distribution to other food establishments or outlets. An importer may also be a
manufacturer. (k) Manufacturers – the refinery in case of refined sugar or cooking oil, the miller in
case of flour, or rice, or the importer in case of imported processed foods or food products, or the
processor in case of other processed food or food products. (l) Maximum tolerable level – the
reference point to check for the safety and quality of the product using individual samples. (m)
Micronutrient – an essential nutrient required by the body in very small quantities; recommended
intakes are in milligrams or micrograms. (n) Minimum acceptable level – the level of fortificant
required by BFAD that should appear in the label and which should also be present at the retail level.
(o) NNC – the Governing Board of the National Nutrition Council (p) Nutrient – Any chemical
substance needed by the body for one or more of these functions: to provide heat or energy, to build
and repair tissues, and to regulate life processes. Although nutrients are found chiefly in foods, some
can be synthesized in the laboratory like vitamin and mineral supplements or in the body through
biosynthesis. (q) Nutrition facts – a statement or information on food labels indicating the nutrient(s)
and the quality of said nutrient found or added in the processed foods or food products. (r) Nutrition
labeling – a system of describing processed foods or food products on the basis of their selected
nutrient content. It aims to provide accurate nutrition information about each food. This is printed in
the food labels as “Nutrition Facts.” (s) Processed food or food products – food that has been
subjected to some degree of processing like milling, drying, concentrating, canning, or addition of
some ingredients which changes partially or completely the physio-chemical and/or sensory
characteristics of the food’s raw material. (t) Quality control procedures – the planned and systematic
activities implemented within the quality system and demonstrated as needed to provide adequate
confidence that those responsible for the fortification of fortified food/food products will fulfill
requirements for quality particularly fortification. (u) Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) –
levels of nutrient intakes, which are considered adequate to maintain health and provide reasonable
levels of reserves in the body tissues of nearly all healthy persons in the population. (v) Refined sugar
– raw sugar and that has undergone processing to produce white, crystalline sugar used for household
consumption and as an ingredient for processed food including white refined sugar derived from sugar
beets and sugar containing flavoring or coloring matter wherein sugar content is over 65% by dry
weight. For purposes of this IRR, refined sugar substitutes which can be fortified such as but not
limited to Very High Pol Low Color sugars (e.g. Brazilian whites), Plantation whites and sulphitated
white shall be considered as refined sugar. (w) Repacker – may be a manufacturer, tollee or
distributor that packs food products from bulk packaging to retail packaging. (x) Sangkap Pinoy Seal
Program – a strategy to encourage manufacturers to fortify processed foods or food products with
essential nutrients at levels approved by the DOH. The fundamental concept of the program is to
authorize manufacturers to use the DOH seal of acceptance for processed foods or food products, after
these products passed a set of defined criteria. The seal is a guide used by consumers in selecting
nutritious foods. (y) Staple food – basic food normally consumed by the general population on a daily
basis e.g. rice, flour, sugar, oil. (z) Tollee – any person, whether natural or juridical, including a
trader, buyer or seller, repacker, or even the producer, who owns the raw materials such as raw sugar,
palay, crude vegetable oil and wheat grains and engages the refinery or miller for the purpose of
refining or milling for a fee, i.e., the tolling fee. (aa) Unprocessed food – food that has not undergone
any treatment that results in substantial change in the original state even if it may have been divided,
boned, skinned, cut cleaned, trimmed, fresh-frozen or chilled. (bb) Wheat flour – a powdery product
primarily made from milling wheat grains. RULE IV – THE PHILIPPINE FOOD FORTIFICATION
PROGRAM SECTION 1. The Philippine Food Fortification Program shall cover all imported or
locally processed foods or food products for sale or distribution, for human consumption in the
Philippines, except as provided in Sec. 2 of Rule X of this IRR. SECTION 2. The Philippine Food
Fortification Program shall consist of two systems: a. Voluntary food fortification to encourage food
processor to undertake food fortification on their own volition to enhance the nutrition content of their
food products; b. Mandatory food fortification for specific food products enumerated in Sec. 6 of
Republic Act No. 8976 and those that may be required by the National Nutrition Council (NNC) to be
fortified under the same section thereof; SECTION 3. Pursuant to the above, the Implementing Rules
and Regulations shall apply to all manufacturers, or producers, importers, traders, tollees, retailers,
repackers of food products covered by Sec. 2 of Rule IV of this IRR, as well as restaurants and food
service establishments where such food products are encouraged to be served. SECTION 4. The
above named business establishments enumerated in the preceding section except food service
establishments shall be duly licensed with the concerned government agencies, such as National Food
Authority for rice, BFAD for wheat flour, Sugar Regulatory Administration for sugar and Philippine
Coconut Authority for cooking oil. They shall likewise inform BFAD prior to the process of
fortification and they shall register their products with BFAD prior to distribution. SECTION 5. The
above-named government agencies shall enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Bureau of
Food and Drugs regarding the licenses mentioned in the preceding paragraph. RULE V –
VOLUNTARY FOOD FORTIFICATION SECTION 1. Under the Sangkap Pinoy Seal Program
(SPSP) the Department of Health (DOH), shall encourage the fortification of all processed foods or
food products based on the rules and regulations which the DOH through BFAD shall issue after the
effectivity of this Act. SECTION 2. Manufacturers who opt to fortify their processed food or food
products but do not apply for registration under the Sangkap Pinoy Program, shall fortify their
processed foods or food products based on acceptable standards on food fortification set by the DOH
through BFAD. SECTION 3. The addition of micronutrients to processed foods or food products to
avoid over or under fortification shall be based on DOH guidelines for food fortification embodied in
DOH Administrative Order No. 4-A series of 1995 and such other necessary guidelines that may be
issued by DOH in consultation with the concerned industry and /or government agencies. RULE VI –
MANDATORY FOOD FORTIFICATION SECTION 1. The following staple food products shall be
fortified in accordance with standards set by the DOH through BFAD, except as provided in Section
2, Rule X as follows: (1) All rice, except brown rice and locally produced glutinous rice, to be
fortified with iron. For this purpose, the DOH through BFAD, in consultation with the National Food
Authority and the Philippine Confederation of Grains Association (PHILCON), hereby sets the
minimum standard for rice fortification to wit: Fortificant Minimum Acceptable Level Maximum
Tolerable Level Iron Ferrous Sulfate Others approved by DOH/BFAD 60 mg Fe/kg raw rice Levels
set by BFAD 90 mg Fe/kg raw rice Levels set by BFAD (2) Wheat flour to be fortified with Vitamin
A and iron. The DOH through BFAD, in consultation with the Philippine Association of Flour Millers
and the Philippine Chamber of Flour Manufacturers, hereby sets the minimum standards for wheat
fortification, to wit: Fortificant Minimum Acceptable Level Maximum Tolerable Level Vitamin A
Retinol palmitate/acetate Or others approved by BFAD 3.0 mg/kg as retinol Levels set by BFAD 6.5
mg/kg as retinol Levels set by BFAD Iron Elemental Iron (electrolytic, H reduced, particle size should
be ≤ 50 microns) 70.0 mg Fe/kg 105 mg/kg as retinol Ferrous Sulfate or Ferrous Fumarate Others
approved by BFAD 50.0 mg Fe/kg Levels set by BFAD 75.0 mg Fe/kg Levels set by BFAD (3)
Refined sugar for human consumption to be fortified with vitamin A. The DOH through BFAD, in
consultation with Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) and sugar industry organizations, hereby
sets the minimum standards for refined sugar fortification, to wit: Fortificant Minimum Acceptable
Level Maximum Tolerable Level Vitamin A Retinol Palmitate Or others approved by BFAD 5.0
mg/kg Levels set by BFAD 30.0 mg/kg Levels set by BFAD (4) Cooking oil for human consumption
to be fortified with vitamin A except for export. The DOH through BFAD in consultation with the
Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), the United Coconut Association of the Philippines (UCAP), the
Coconut Refiners Association (CORA), and the Philippine Coconut Research and Development
Foundation (PCRDF) hereby sets the minimum standards for the level of fortification of cooking oil,
to wit: Fortificant Minimum Acceptable Level Maximum Tolerable Level Vitamin A Retinol
palmitate Or others approved by BFAD 12.0 mg RE/L Levels set by BFAD 23 mg RE/L Levels set by
BFAD (5) Other staple food products shall be fortified with appropriate nutrients as may be required
by the National Nutrition Council (NNC) when nutrition surveys show the need for fortification of
such other staple food, and scientific findings show the feasibility of fortifying such food products. (6)
Such food fortification that may be required by the NNC does not need further legislation but only
through regulations to be promulgated by the DOH through BFAD, in consultation with other
concerned agencies and industry organizations. SECTION 2. The mandatory fortification of the four
identified staple foods shall be the responsibility of the following: a. Locally processed staple food
products shall be fortified by the manufacturers. In case the manufacturer is not the owner of the raw
sugar, crude vegetable oil, palay and wheat grains, the tollee shall be responsible for notifying the
refinery or the miller of the destination of the processed food, whether for export, for the production
of other processed food products, or for direct human consumption. In case fortification of the
mandatory staple was not required by the tollee, and the latter nevertheless sells or distributes the
same in cases where fortification is required under these rules, said tollee shall be responsible for the
non-fortification of the mandatory staple. Likewise, the miller or refiner shall be responsible for
reporting monthly to BFAD any nonfortification required by the tollee. b. For imported staple food
products, food fortification shall be done by the manufacturer at the place of manufacture. If such
imported products are not fortified at the source of manufacture, the importers thereof shall be
responsible for their food fortification before they are released for sale or distribution in the
Philippines. c. Repackers shall repack only staple food products that have been fortified. SECTION 3.
The label of fortified staple food products offered for sale in the market shall include a statement of
the fortificant added and the amount present within the shelf life of the product. RULE VII –
QUALITY ASSURANCE SECTION 1. In accordance with the mandate of Sec. 7 of Rep. Act No.
8976, the agencies responsible for the implementation of this law shall establish a quality assurance
system with respect to food fortification. However, manufacturers and importers of processed food or
food products or repackers shall also establish their own quality assurance system, which shall
conform to the quality assurance system of the implementing agency. Annex 1 is the General Quality
Assurance system for Food Fortification to be used as a guide. RULE VIII – IMPLEMENTATION,
MONITORING AND REVIEW SECTION 1. The DOH trough BFAD is the lead agency in the
implementation and monitoring of this Act. The DOH shall lead in planning the activities on food
fortification which shall include the promotion and advocacy activities on the use of fortified food
products through its Sangkap Pinoy Seal Program and other programs to promote nutrition. Products
that have been accepted under the Sangkap Pinoy Seal Program can use the SPSP seal. SECTION 2.
The DOH, is authorized to charge reasonable fees and under authority of Sec. 8 of Rep. Act No. 8976
shall use the fees collected under the SPSP for promotional and advocacy activities for nutrition.
Likewise, BFAD is also authorized to collect reasonable fees for the registration of fortified products.
SECTION 3. The NNC, as the policymaking and coordinating body on nutrition shall serve as the
advisory body on food fortification. As such, the NNC shall conduct a periodic review at least once
every five years, or upon petition of an industry mandated to fortify their products, of the
micronutrient added to food, to determine if mandatory food fortification is still needed or not. The
NNC shall use the data of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) national nutrition survey
and/or the assessment of the Philippine Plan of Action on Nutrition (PPAN), and other nutrition
surveillance systems in conducting such review. SECTION 4. The DOH through BFAD, as the lead
implementing agency shall be assisted in the monitoring and review of the program by the following:
a. Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) for sugar; b. National Food Authority (NFA) for rice; c.
Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA); d. Bureau of Customs for imported products e. The other
agencies enumerated in Rule No. IX. The BFAD shall continue to monitor and review the fortification
of wheat flour. SECTION 5. The BFAD shall formulate the standard operating procedures (SOP) for
monitoring the implementation of this Act. SECTION 6. The Local Government Units (LGUs) shall
assist in the monitoring of foods mandated to be fortified, in public markets, retail stores, and food
service establishments. It shall likewise check if the labels of fortified products contain nutrition facts
stating the nutrient added and its quantity. The LGUs shall designate only one set from the following
officials enumerated in Rep. Act No. 8976, Sec. 8 to conduct the monitoring or checking functions:
Health officers or Agricultural officers or Nutritionist-dieticians or Sanitary Inspectors The LGUs
shall inform BFAD which of the officers enumerated above as been assigned to monitor the fortified
products. The LGUs shall submit reports on monitoring to the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) in
the manner and form prescribed by the latter. SECTION 7. The business establishments in the local
food industries and importers of processed foods covered by this Act shall submit to the DOH the
following: a. Annual Reports, indicating their industrial concerns relative to food fortification, b.
Production, marketing and distribution of food-fortified products that they are manufacturing.
SECTION 8. The Bureau of Customs shall inform the DOH through BFAD of all imported rice,
sugar, wheat flour and cooking oil, prior to their release, to enable BFAD to ascertain if such imported
products are already fortified. BFAD shall undertake a final inspection that the products are really
fortified and registered with BFAD as fortified products prior to sale and distribution. RULE IX –
SUPPORT TO AFFECTED MANUFACTURERS SECTION 1. The affected manufacturers shall be
supported by the following government agencies in the achievement of the purposes of this Act,
through their respective programs: a. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) shall assist and
support affected manufacturers in upgrading their technologies by helping them obtain soft loans and
financial assistance for the procurement of technologies and machines. Through the Board of
Investments (BOI), the DTI shall provide incentives by including food fortification as a priority
investment or activity. The incentives may include but not be limited to exemption from customs
duties and national internal revenue taxes on imported capital equipment and spare parts and inputs
required in fortifying food products, tax credits on the portion of food products fortified, tax credit on
domestic capital equipment and/or spare parts equivalent to the normal duty imposed on their
imported counterpart. b. The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) shall assist the affected
manufacturers by developing and implementing comprehensive program for the acquisition, design
and manufacture of new machines and technologies and transfer said machines and technologies to
manufacturers. c. The Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and the Livelihood Corporation
(LIVECORP) shall grant loans at preferential rates of interest to manufacturers of fortified food
products. d. Manufacturers of food-fortified products under the mandatory and voluntary food
fortification program may avail of the analytical laboratories of government agencies and institutions
for nutrient analysis at a reasonable cost. Such agencies and institution, like the Department of
Agriculture, National Food Authority, Philippine Coconut Authority, Sugar Regulatory
Administration and attached agencies with accredited facilities shall assist the manufacturers of
fortified food products. e. Incentives in the form of tax credits may also be granted by the Department
of Finance thru the Bureau of Internal Revenue to business establishments that undertake food
fortification before the effectivity of mandatory food fortification. SECTION 2. The agencies
mentioned in Rule VIII and Rule IX mandated to implement and support the food fortification
program shall allocate part of their budget for the implementation and support of this program. RULE
X – NONCOMPLIANCE WITH FORTIFICATION PROCESS SECTION 1. The following acts shall
be considered as noncompliance with the food fortification process: a. If the food fortification level
does not comply with the requirements as mentioned in Rule VI, Section I except when the deviation
from the fortification levels are justified and are properly declared on the label of the product. b. If the
fortificant used is different from that approved by the DOH/BFAD, and c. If the process of
fortification does not conform to Rule VII of this IRR. SECTION 2. The above provisions
notwithstanding, exceptions subject to the approval by BFAD, may be allowed as in the following
cases: (a) Dietary supplements for which established standards have already been prescribed by the
DOH through BFAD; (b) Those intended for exports or for use in the production of other processed
food products, such as beverages where the fortified product used for food processing may affect the
processed product by the fortificant. RULE XI – ADMINISTRATIVE SANCTIONS SECTION 1.
Noncompliance of RA 8976 including the food fortification guidelines set by the DOH through
BFAD shall entitle the latter to impose any or all of the following applicable administrative sanctions,
after due notice and hearing: a. The DOH through BFAD shall deny registration of new processed
foods and staple food products that do not comply with the food fortification requirements. The DOH
through BFAD shall not allow said products to be sold in the market. b. The DOH through BFAD
shall order the owners or sources of the products to recall or withdraw the said processed foods or
food products from the market, if already in the market for sale and distribution. c. For the first
violation of Republic Act No. 8976, or the Implementing Rules and Regulations or the fortification
standards or guideline, the DOH through BFAD shall impose a fine of not less than Three Hundred
Thousand Pesos (P300,000); and suspension of registration of the products. d. For the second
violation, the DOH through BFAD shall impose a fine of not more than Six Hundred Thousand Pesos
(600,000) but not less than Three Hundred Thousand One Pesos (P300,001) and suspension of the
product registration. e. For the third violation, the DOH through BFAD shall impose a fine of not
more than One Million Pesos (P1,000,000) but not less than Six Hundred Thousand One Pesos
(P600,001) and cancellation of the product registration. f. If the violator is a juridical entity, the
person responsible for the violation, shall be jointly and solidarily liable with the juridical entity, for
the administrative fines imposed in the above provisions. SECTION 2. When the act or omission in
violation of Rep. Act 8976 and/or its Implementing Rules and Regulations is attended by a manifest
intention to mislead, defraud or deceive the consuming public, the maximum fine and revocation of
the License to Operate and License to Sell shall be imposed. SECTION 3. In case of appeal from the
decision of BFAD, the Secretary of Health may delegate the conduct of the administrative
investigation of any violation of RA 8976 or its Implementing Rules and Regulations to an
adjudication board composed of the following members from: a. Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD)
as Chairman b. Department of Interior and Local Government c. Department of Trade and Industry
(DTI) d. An official from the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) or National Food Authority
(NFA) or Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) or Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD), as the case
may be, when the investigation involves sugar, rice, cooking oil or wheat flour, respectively, and e. A
representative nominated by the industry organization whose product is the subject of investigation,
provided however, that such representative is not personally involved in the matter under
investigation. Any further action a party may decide to take in connection with the decision of the
adjudication board, shall be subject to the rules and procedures of the BFAD. RULE XII –
INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS SECTION 1. Nothing in this Act is intended to violate
provisions of Treaties and International Agreements to which Philippines is a party. RULE XIII –
REPEALING CLAUSE SECTION 1. All Administrative Orders, circular and rulings on food
fortification issued by the DOH and/or BFAD and other agencies involved in nutrition regulation that
are inconsistent or contrary to the provisions of Rep. Act No. 8976 or the Implementing Rules and
Regulations shall be considered hereby repealed or amended. RULE XIV – SEPARABILITY
CLAUSE SECTION 1. If any part of these rules and regulations shall be declared null and void by a
court having jurisdiction, the other portions thereof shall remain legal and valid and in full effect.
RULE XV – AMENDMENTS SECTION 1. The provision of these Implementing Rules and
Regulations shall be amended in the same manner that they were formulated, calling for consultative
meetings of the same agencies involved in the formulations of the IRR as provided in Sec. 12 RA No.
8976. RULE XVI – EFFECTIVITY SECTION 1. The Implementing Rules and Regulations shall take
effect thirty (30) days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation with respect to
Voluntary Food Fortification. SECTION 2. The Implementation of the Mandatory Food Fortification
for wheat flour, refined sugar, cooking oil and rice, including those milled and/or distributed by the
National Food Authority, shall commence after four years from the effectivity of Rep. Act No. 8976,
which was November 7, 2000, hence the Implementing Rules and Regulations for Mandatory Food
Fortification shall take effect on November 7, 2004. APPROVED: MANUEL M. DAYRIT, M.D.,
M.Sc. Secre
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8976 November 7, 2000
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE FOOD FORTIFICATION PROGRAM AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines Congress assembled:
Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Food Fortification Act of 2000."
Section 2. Declaration of Policies. - Section 15 of Article II of the Constitution provides that the State shall protect and
promote the right of health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.
State recognizes that nutritional deficiency problems in the Philippines, based on nutrition surveys, include deficiency in
energy, iron, vitamin A, iodine, thiamin and riboflavin. To a minor extent, the Filipino diet is also deficient in ascorbic acid,
calcium and folate.
The State recognizes that food fortification is vital where there is a demonstrated need to increase the intake of an
essential nutrient by one or more population groups, as manifested in dietary, biochemical or clinical evidences of
deficiency. Food fortification is considered important in the promotion of optimal health and to compensate for the loss of
nutrients due to processing and/or storage of food.
Food fortification, therefore, shall carried out to compensate for the inadequacies in Filipino diet, based on present-day
needs as measured using the most recent Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA)
Section 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean:
(a) BFAD - the Bureau of Food and Drugs of the Department of Health.
(b) DOH - the Department of Health.
(c) Fortification - the addition of nutrients to processed foods or food products at levels above the natural state. As an
approach to control micronutrient deficiency, food fortification is addition of a micronutrient, deficiency in the diet, to a food
which is widely consumed by a specific at-risk groups.
(d) Fortificant - a substance, in chemical or natural form, added to food to increase its nutrient value.
(e) Micronutrient - an essential nutrient required by the body in very small quantities; recommended intakes are in
milligrams or micrograms.
(f) Manufacturer - the refinery in case of refined sugar or cooking oil, the miller in case of flour or rice, or the importer in
case of imported processed foods or food products, or the processor in case of other processed foods or foods products.
(g) NCC - the Governing Board of the National Nutrition Council.

(h) Nutrient - any chemical substance needed by the body for one or more of these functions; to provide heat or energy, to
build and repair tissues, and to regulate life processes. Although nutrients are found chiefly in foods, some can be
synthesized in the laboratory like vitamin and mineral supplements or in the body through biosynthesis.
(i) Nutrition Facts - a statement or information on food labels indicating the nutrient(s) and the quantity of said nutrient
found or added in the processed foods or food products.
(j) Nutrition labeling - a system of describing processed foods or food products on the basis of their selected nutrient
content. It aims to provide accurate nutrition information about each food. This is printed in food labels as "Nutrition Facts."
(k) Processed food or food products - food that has been subjected to some degree of processing like milling, drying,
concentrating, canning, or addition of some ingredients which changes partially or completely the physico-chemical and/or
sensory characteristics of the food's raw material.
(l) Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) - levels of nutrient intakes which are considered adequate to maintain health
and provide reasonable levels or reserves in body tissues of nearly all health persons in the population.
(m) Sangkap Pinoy Seal Program (SPSP). - a strategy to encourage food manufacturers to fortify processed foods or food
products with essential nutrients at levels approved by the DOH. The fundamental concept of the program is to authorize
food manufacturers to use the DOH seal of acceptance for processed foods or food products, after these products passed
a set of defined criteria. The seal is a guide used by consumers in selecting nutritions foods.
(n) Unprocessed food - food that has not undergone any treatment that results in substantial change in the original state
even if it may have been divided boned, skinned, peeled, ground, cut cleaned, trimmed, fresh-frozen or chilled.
Section 4. The Philippine Food fortification Program. - The Philippine Food fortification Program, hereinafter referred to as
the Program, shall cover all imported or locally processed foods or food products for sale or distribution in the Philippines;
Provided, That, dietary supplements for which established standards have already been prescribed by the DOH through
the BFAD and which standards include specifications for nutrient composition or levels of fortification shall not be covered
by this Act.
The program shall consist of (1) Voluntary Food Fortification and (2) Mandatory Food Fortification.
Section 5. Voluntary Food Fortification. - Under the Sangkap Pinoy Seal Program (SPSP), the Department shall
encourage the fortification of all processed foods or food products based on rules and regulations which the DOH through
the BFAD shall issue after the effectivity of this act.
Manufacturers who opt to fortify their processed foods of food products but do not apply for Sangkap Pinoy Seal shall fortify
their processed food or food products based on acceptable standards on food fortification set by the DOH through the
BFAD.
Section 6. Mandatory Food Fortification. - (a) the fortification fo staple foods based on standards sets by the DOH through
the BFAD is hereby made mandatory for the following:
(1) Rice - with Iron;
(2) Wheat flour 0 with vitamins A and Iron;
(3) Refined sugar - with vitamin A;
(4) Cooking oil - with vitamin A; and

(5) Other staple foods with nutrients as may later required by The NCC.
The National Nutrition Council (NCC) shall require other processed foods or food products to be fortified based on the
findings of nutrition surveys. Such requirement shall be promulgated through regulations to be issued by the Department of
Health (DOH) through the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) and other concerned agencies.
(b) The fortification of processed foods or food products under this Section shall be undertaken by the manufacturers:
Provided, That in the case of imported processed foods or food products, the required fortification shall be done by the
producers/manufacturers of such imported processed foods or food products. Otherwise, the importer shall have
responsibility of fortifying the imported processed foods or food products before said products are allowed to be distributed
or sold to the public: Provided, further, That the implementation of the mandatory fortification for wheat flour, refined sugar,
cooking oil and rice, including those milled and/or distributed by the National Food Authority, shall commence after four (4)
years from the effectivity of this Act.
(c) The DOH guidelines on micronutrient fortification of processed food or food products included in Administrative Order
No. 4-A series of 1995 and such other necessary guidelines that may be issued by the DOH, shall serve as a basis for the
addition of micronutrient(s) to processed foods or food products to avoid over or under fortification that may create
imbalance in the diet as well as avoid misleading label claims to gain competitive marketing advantage.
(d) Manufacturers of processed foods or food products shall include on the label a statement of "nutrition facts" indicating
the nutrient(s) and the quantities of said nutrients added in the food.
(e) Imported rice, wheat flour, refined sugar, cooking oil and other processed foods or food products that may identified
later by the NCC, shall comply with the requirements of this Act on entry in country, at the end of manufacturing process
and/or at all points of sale or distribution.
Section 7. Quality Assurance. - The agencies charged with the implementation of this Act shall establish a quality
assurance system. Likewise, the manufacturers and importers of processed foods or food products shall also establish
their own quality assurance system in accordance with the quality assurance system of the implementing agencies.
Section 8. Implementation, Monitoring and Review. - The DOH through the BFAD shall be the lead agency responsible for
the implementation and monitoring of this Act while the NNC, the policy-making and coordinating body of nutrition, shall
serve as the advisory board on food fortification.
The DOH shall also be responsible in the conduct of promotional and advocacy activities on the use of fortified processed
foods or food products through its Sangkap Pinoy Seal Program (SPSP) and/or other programs designed to promote
nutrition. Products approved by the SPSP shall be allowed to use the Sangkap Pinoy Seal. Futher, the DOH is hereby
authorized to charge reasonable fees for applications in the SPSP and use of such fees in the promotion and advocacy
activities of nutrition.
The NCC shall conduct a periodic review of the micronutrients added to food. This review will provide the basis for
determining if the mandatory fortification is still required or not. The review shall be done at least every five (5) years to
coincide with the conduct of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute's (FNRI) national nutrition survey and/or the
assessment of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN).
The local government units, through their health officers or agricultural officers or nutritionist-dieticians or the sanitary
inspectors shall assist in monitoring/checking that foods to be mandated to be fortified like rice, refined sugar, wheat flour
and cooking oil are properly fortified and labeled with "nutrition facts" indicating the specific micronutrient it was fortified
with.
The local food industries shall report on the production, marketing and distribution of fortified foods. They shall annual
reports to the DOH, also indicating their industrial concerns and recommendations.
Section 9. Support to Affected Manufacturers. - The following government agencies shall support the implementation of
this Act through their respective programs:
(a) The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is hereby required to assist and support affected manufacturers in
upgrading their technologies by helping them obtain soft loans and financial assistance for the procurement of technologies
and machines to comply with the provision of this Act;
(b) The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) shall develop and implement comprehensive programs for the
acquisition, design and manufacture of machines and technologies and transfer said machines and technologies to
manufacturers;
(c) The Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and the livelihood Corporation (LIVERCOR) are hereby required to assist and
support the implementation of this Act by granting loans, to affected manufacturers, at preferential rates; and
(d) The various agencies/institutions with accredited analytical laboratories for nutrient analysis and other technology
development generators shall provide the necessary services that may be required by the food industry in compliance with
this Act.
Section 10. Noncompliance with Fortification Process. - The following shall be considered non compliance with the
fortification process:
(a) if the food fortification levels do not comply with the DOH requirements, except when the deviation from the fortification
levels are justified and are properly declared in the labeling;
(b) If the fortificant used is different from that approved by the DOH; and
(c) If the process of fortification does not conform to the DOH standard.
Section 11. Administrative Sanctions. - The DOH through the BFAD, after notice and hearing, shall impose any or all of the
following administrative sanctions in cases of noncompliance with the food fortification guidelines it has set:
(a) Denial of registration of the processed foods or food products by the DOH through the BFAD if the processed foods or
food products do not comply with the food fortification requirements. Said processed foods or food products shall not be
allowed to be put in the market;
(b) Order the recall of the processed foods or food product(s); and
(c) Impose a fine or not less than Three Hundred Thousand Pesos (P300,000.00) and suspension of registration for the
first violation; not more than Six hundred thousand pesos (P600,000.00) and suspension of registration for the second
violation; and not more than one million pesos (P1,000,000.00) and cancellation of the registration of the product for the
third violation of the provisions of this Act or its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).
Section 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOH through the BFAD and in consultation with other concerned
government agencies, nongovernment organizations, private sectors and consumer groups involved in nutrition, shall
formulate the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) necessary to implement the provisions of this Act within ninety (90)
days from the approval of this Act. The IRR issued pursuant to this Section shall take effect thirty (30) days after publication
in a national newspaper of general application.
Section 13. International Commitments. - Nothing in this Act is intended to violate provisions of Treaties and International
Agreements to which the Philippines is a party.
Section 14. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, rules and regulations, executive orders inconsistent with the provisions
of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Section 15. Seperability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or unlawful, the remaining
provisions shall remain legal and in full effect.
Section 16. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Approved: November 7, 2000
(Sgd.)JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA

President of the Philippines
The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation
First 1,000 Days’ Law builds healthy families, healthy nation

BY THE MANILA TIMES
DECEMBER 12, 2018
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 ‘FIRST 1,000 DAYS’ LAW BUILDS HEALTHY FAMILIES, HEALTHY NATION
THE PASSAGE into law of Republic Act (RA) 11148, or the “First 1,000 Days” Law, is a significant
legislative accomplishment that has obtained the full backing of the Executive branch now that it has
been signed by President Rodrigo Duterte.
The First 1,000 Days refer to the period from a woman’s pregnancy up to the first two years of an
infant’s life, during which it is crucial that mother and child receive adequate healthcare and nutrition.
The law, also called “Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act,” is designed to ensure the nutrition
of pre-pregnant, pregnant and lactating women, as well as infants and young children.
It strengthens the enforcement of Executive Order 51, or the “Milk Code,” and RA 10028, or the
“Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009,” which promotes optimal infant and young child
feeding and maternity protection.
About P17 billion will be needed to inoculate 2.7 million pregnant women against tetanus and
diphtheria, according to Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, one of the bill’s proponents.
It also seeks to provide “comprehensive, sustainable multi-sectoral strategies and approaches to
address health and nutrition problems of newborns, infants and young children, pregnant and lactating
women and adolescent females, as well as multi-factoral issues that negatively affect the development
of newborns, infants and young children, integrating the short, medium and long-term plans of the
government to end hunger, improve health and nutrition, and reduce malnutrition.”
To do this, the law mandates the Department of Health, the National Nutrition Council and the
Department of Agriculture, in coordination with other state agencies and local government units, to
formulate national nutrition policies, plans, strategies and approaches for the nutrition improvement,
including strategies on women, infant and young child and adolescent nutrition.
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Passage of the law is needed, as one in four pregnant women in the country are recorded by the
government as “nutritionally at risk.”
Moreover, data from the World Health Organization shows that over 5.9 million children under 5
years old worldwide die due to malnutrition. In the Philippines, the Food and Nutrition Research
Institute put the ratio at one in three Filipino children aged 0 to 2 being malnourished, based on 2013
data.
In fact, stunting, or impaired growth and development that children experience due to poor nutrition
and repeated infection, is prevalent in the Philippines, with one in three children under 5 said to be
stunted. Eleven out of 17 regions in the country have high occurrences of stunting.
RA 11148 is an important piece of social legislation that is pro-children, pro-women and pro-family,
characteristics that are hallmarks of Filipino society and culture.
It somehow balances the implementation of RA 10354, or the “Responsible Parenthood and

Reproductive Health Law,” which is anti-natalist in orientation, given its advocacy to limit the
number of children in families through contraception.
This means the government is also willing to invest in the health and nutrition of Filipino mothers and
newborn children, which, in turn, promotes healthy families and builds a healthy nation.
DOH seeks to reduce child, maternal deaths
 Manila Times
 30 Jun 2010
 ROMMEL LONTAYAO
TAKING into account cases of maternal deaths because of profuse bleeding, the Department of
Health (DOH) has issued a circular providing for the availability blood and blood transfusion services
for pregnant women.
Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral said that the department, cognizant of the fact that postpartum
hemorrhage accounts for a large number of maternal deaths in the country, issued Department
Circular 2010-0181 under the Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health and Nutrition Strategy (MNCHN).
The MNHCN is the national program driven under the auspices of the Health department that seeks to
reduce maternal and child mortality rates in the entire country.
The circular, she said, seeks to complement Administrative Order 2008-0029 (Implementing Health
Reforms for Rapid Reduction of Maternal and Neonatal Mortality) and Department Circular 2010-
0013 (Operation Guidelines for National Blood Voluntary Services Program), and was published on
Sunday.
“We hope that the issuance of this circular will make a huge difference in our pursuit of promoting
safe childbirths in the country,” Cabral said.
“Ultimately our goal is to save the lives of more Filipino mothers and children, and in the process
reach our targets under the Millennium Development Goals,” she added.
At present, the Philippines is unlikely to meet the target for maternal mortality rate under Millennium
Development Goal 5, necessitating more interventions on the part of the government.
Cabral explained that under the circular, pregnant women and their husbands shall undergo blood
typing during one of the prenatal visits. After passing donor selection and screening standards, the
husbands and relatives of the pregnant women shall donate blood, with priority access to the blood
pool going to the pregnant women in time of need.
Units of blood will be reserved for pregnant women in identified blood banks or blood stations. These
facilities are required to ensure the availability of blood when needed, ideally one week before a
pregnant women’s expected date of confinement.
In addition, poor families with pregnant women will be enrolled in Philhealth for the reimbursement
of the cost of prenatal care and blood services. Centers of Health Development are also required to
allocate money for the reimbursement of blood service fees.
PROVINCIAL RESOLUTION NO. 164-2012
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING AND ADOPTING SET OF MEASURES AND SYSTEMS

SUPPORTING MATERNAL NEONATAL AND CHILD HEALTH AND NUTRITION (MNCHN)
STRATEGY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
WHEREAS, the government of the Philippines is one of the signatories in the UN Millennium
Declaration that translated into a roadmap a set of goals that targets reduction of poverty,
hunger and ill health;
WHEREAS, the Department of Health issued Administrative Order 2008-0029 known as
“Implementing Health Reforms for Rapid Reduction of Maternal and Neonatal Mortality” and
the strategy identifies coordinated intervention at each life stage towards improvements of
intermediate health outcomes such as antenatal care (ANC), facility based delivery (FBD),
contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR), and fully immunized children (FIC);
WHEREAS, the DOH AO 2010-0036 establishes the need to implement the Universal Health
Care Program (UHC) that is directed towards achieving better health outcomes, sustained
health financing and more responsive health system while ensuring that all Filipinos,
especially the disadvantaged groups, have equitable access to affordable health care;
WHEREAS, pregnancy and childbirth are among the leading causes of death, disease and
disability in women of reproductive age in developing countries;
WHEREAS, as statistics show, almost 4,600 Filipino women die while giving birth each year
translating into more than 10 mothers dying every day, leaving more than 30 children
motherless; Maternal Mortality Report 2005. Estimates developed by WHO, UNICEF,
UNFPA and World Bank 2005;
WHEREAS, of the total under-five deaths, (34/1000 live births) more than two thirds
(25/1000 live births) occur before the child’s first birthday; National Demographic Health
Survey 2008;
WHEREAS, there are thirty three (33) numbers of maternal deaths and one hundred forty
(140) number of neonatal deaths recorded in the Province of Pangasinan in the year 2011.
(FHSIS, Tracking Report on Maternal and Neonatal Death);
WHEREAS, the Philippines Millennium Development Goals (MDG) target is lagging behind
in reducing maternal and infant mortality. These two indicators are still at 162 per 100,000
live births and 25 per 1,000 live births respectively (2005 Family Planning Survey (FPS) and
2008 National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS), with 2015 Millennium Development
Goals (MDG) targets at 52 and 19, respectively;
WHEREAS, the Philippine government committed to work towards the reduction of maternal
mortality ratio by three quarters and under-five mortality by two thirds by 2015 at all cost;
WHEREAS, steadfast on its duties and commitment to uphold and protect the lives of its
constituents and to make the province the best place to raise a family, the Pangasinan
Provincial Government deems it imperative and appropriate to establish and adopt
measures to reduce, if not finally eliminate, maternal and infant deaths in the province;
NOW, THEREFORE, on motion of SP Member Jeremy Agerico B. Rosario, duly seconded,
be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan that:
SECTION 1. TITLE – This ordinance shall be known as AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING
AND ADOPTING SET OF MEASURES AND SYSTEMS SUPPORTING MATERNAL
NEONATAL AND CHILD HEALTH AND NUTRITION (MNCHN) STRATEGY OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
SECTION 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY – The Province of Pangasinan hereby adopts
measures to uphold and protect the lives of its constituents in line with the pursuit of
sustainable human development that values human dignity and offers full protection to
women and their unborn babies. It is the policy of this Provincial Ordinance to best deliver
MNCHN Strategy through an area-wide LGU –led, network of public and private providers
capable of delivering the core package of Maternal, Newborn, Child Health and Nutrition
(MNCHN) services.
SECTION 3. OPERATIVE PRINCIPLES/PURPOSES. This Ordinance shall have the
following purposes:
a. To strengthen the province-wide health system as a unit for planning, organizing and
implementing the MNCHN strategy.
b. To engage local stakeholders and establish public-private partnerships and
mechanisms to support the goal of rapidly reducing maternal and neonatal mortality.
c. To capacitate and mobilize health service delivery network to deliver a continuum of
MNCHN services.
d. To develop and support demand generation interventions to improve health seeking
behaviours and service utilization in localities.
e. To develop and support establishment, operations and maintenance of monitoring and
evaluation mechanisms in public and private facilities for local implementation of the
MNCHN strategy.
SECTION 4. DEFINITION OF TERMS – For purposes of this ordinance, the following terms
shall be defined as follows:
1. Antenatal Care Coverage (ANC) – is an indicator of access and use of health care
during pregnancy. It constitutes screening for health and socioeconomic conditions likely to
increase the possibility of specific adverse pregnancy outcomes, providing therapeutic
interventions known to be effective and educating pregnant women about planning for safe
childbirth (facility-based deliveries), emergencies during pregnancy and how to deal with
them.
2. Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) – is the proportion of women age 15-49 years
reporting current use of a modern method.
3. Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) – refers to the number of infant dying before reaching the
age of one year per 1,000 live births in a given year. It represents an important component of
under-five mortality rate.
4. Integrated MNCHN Service – is a package of services for women and children covering
a spectrum of known cost effective public health and clinical management measures capable
of reducing exposure to and severity of risks for maternal and neonatal deaths, as well as
preventing their direct causes, that are within the capacity of the health system to routinely
provide.
5. Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health and Nutrition (MNCHN) Service Delivery
Network – refers to the network of facilities and providers (public and private) within a
province and (chartered) city health system offering integrated MNCHN services in a
coordinated manner, including the support to financing, communication and transportation
systems.
6. Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) – refers to the number of maternal deaths per 100,000
Live Birth. Maternal Death is a death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of
termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and the site of pregnancy from any
cause related to aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or
incidental cause.
7. MNCHN Core Service Package – consists of health services that are both preventive
and curative established to lower the risk and respond to direct causes of maternal and
neonatal deaths and consequently improve women’s and children’s health. The intervention
caters to the spectrum of needs of women and children. For the women, this consist of
services that span the period before pregnancy to post childbirth services that include
essential newborn care during the first week of life. For the children, the service package
covers essential health care of the newborn after the first week to adolescent stage.
8. Province and city/municipal health systems – refers to an organized scheme for
delivering health services including the integrated MNCHN service package in a contained
geographic area covering and entire province, municipality or city. It is divided into small sub
systems consisting of public and private providers organized into Inter Local Health Zones
(ILHZ).
9. Public Private Partnership (PPP) – A cooperative venture between the public and
private sectors, built on the expertise of each partner, that best meet clearly defined public
needs through the appropriate allocation of resources, risks and rewards. This partnership
may range from health care provision to logistics management, from information and
communication technology to capacity building of health providers.
10. Facility-Based Deliveries (FBD) – refers to deliveries in a health facility to the total
number of deliveries.
11. Fully Immunized Children (FIC) – an infant who received 1 dose of Bacillus Calmette
Guerin (BCG), 3 doses each of Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus (DPT), Oral Polio Vaccine
(OPV), Hepatitis B (Hep B) and 1 dose of anti-measles vaccine before reaching one year
old.
12. National Household Targeting System (NHTS) – a data bank and an information
management system managed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) that identifies who and where the poor are. The system generates and maintains
the socio-economic database of poor households.
13. Continuum of Services – integrated and coordinated packages of health services that
encompass health promotive and preventive services, to in-hospital care support and
treatment services and post-hospital rehabilitative services. These packages of services are
made available at strategic access points where utilization is maximized by clients who need
them most.
14. Community Health Team (CHT) – is a group of health volunteers assigned in each
barangay/priority population area led by a midwife that tracks eligible population for public
health services, assists families in assessing and acting on health needs, provides
information on available services in the locality, and facilitates the organization of
transportation and communication systems, outreach services and linkages with other
providers in the service delivery network (e.g. Barangay Health Station, Rural Health Unit,
other small private and public hospital and facilities).
15. Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC) – capable facilities are
capable of performing the following six signal obstetric functions: (1) parenteral
administration of oxytocin in the third stage of labor; (2) parenteral administration of loading
dose of anticonvulsants; (3) parenteral administration of initial dose of antibiotics; (4)
performance of assisted deliveries; (5) removal of retained products of conception; and (6)
manual removal of retained placenta. These facilities are also able to provide emergency
neonatal interventions, which include the minimum: (1) newborn resuscitation; (2) treatment
of neonatal sepsis/infection; and (3) oxygen support. It shall also be capable of providing
blood transfusion services on top of its standard functions.
16. Garantisadong Pambata (GP) – an institutionalized Preschoolers Health Campaign
conducted nationwide where a package of health services and relevant health information is
delivered twice a year to children 0-71 month old children.
17. No Balance Billing Policy – refers to the policy that National Health Insurance Program
(NHIP) members who belong to the poorest income quintile and their beneficiaries will not be
required to pay out of pocket for costs for their confinement subject to the specific terms and
conditions of this policy.
SECTION 5. KEY MNCHN INTERVENTIONS
a. This LGU shall organize, train and deploy community health teams (CHT) to transform
needs to effective demand, specifically, help family members assess health risk, deliver key
messages and formulate health implementation plan as well as guide these families navigate
through the health system and provide adequate information to families on PhilHealth.
b. This LGU shall build capacities of health staff for effective MNCHN service provision:
Responsible Parenthood Competency-Based Training Course Level 1 (RPCBT1),
Responsible Parenthood Competency-Based Training Course Level 2 (RPCBT2), Active
Management of the Third Stage of Labor (AMSTL), Long Acting Permanent Method (LAPM),
Essential Newborn Care (ENC), Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC),
Antenatal Care (ANC).
c. This LGU shall implement MNCHN-Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI)
integration (Integrating MNCHN into services other than maternal health: EPI,
Garantisadong Pambata (GP) to reduce unmet need and deliver key messages for mothers.
d. This LGU shall provide orientation/information to LGUs on the Department of Health
(DOH) Administrative Order (AO) on Informed Choice Volunterism (ICV) compliance,
including the roles and key activities on ICV compliance.
e. This LGU shall formulate the local NHIP plan that includes key interventions such
increasing coverage/enrollment, accreditation of health facilities, provision of information to
members and providers on benefits/ access to Philhealth benefits, improving claims
management and effective implementation of “no-balance billing scheme”.
f. This LGU shall allocate funds and procure MNCHN commodities and ensure free access
of Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) and National Household Targeting System (NHTS)
families.
g. This LGU shall conduct regular Data Quality Check (DQC) and generate reliable data on
CPR as bases for planning, financing and policy development, and ensure sustained DQC
activities and support through dedicated personnel and availability of forms.
h. This LGU shall establish and implement the Stock and Inventory Management System
(SIMS) to build LGU capacities in tracking MNCHN commodities in health facilities, including
related medical supplies.
SECTION 6. ROLES and FUNCTIONS
1. PROVINCIAL HEALTH OFFICE (PHO) shall:
a. be the steward in the implementation of this ordinance and ensure that systems,
programs and services are available at all times.
b. serve as the central advisory, planning, policy making body in collaboration with other
stakeholders in health.
c. recommend the enactment of legislation to support this program and adopt measures to
reduce maternal deaths in the province.
d. develop and implement the different protocols on the execution of the maternal health
program of the Department of Health.
e. conduct periodic coordination meetings with health service delivery network.
f. conduct annual program implementation review.
g. augment needed resources.
2. MUNICIPAL/CITY HEALTH OFFICE (MHO/CHO)) shall:
a. develop local policies and plans appropriate to the need of their locality and consistent
with the implementation of MNCHN Strategy.
b. mobilize and utilize resources to organize and sustain service delivery networks
including provision of supplies, drugs and commodities.
c. organize service delivery networks in partnership with the private sector for effective
delivery of health service package, and whenever appropriate, contract private providers to
supplement available services or provide other services that cannot be delivered by existing
public providers.
d. implement delivery of quality MNCHN services in their locality.
e. maintain and submit record and reports of MNCHN services to Inter Local Health Zone
(ILHZ) and PHO.
SECTION 7. SOURCE OF FUND. The budget for this ordinance shall be drawn from the
available MNCHN Grant or other source of fund from the Provincial Government.
SECTION 8. ADMINISTRATIVE CLAUSE – This ordinance covers only the territorial
jurisdiction of the Province of Pangasinan.
SECTION 9. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE – If any part, section or provision of this ordinance is
declared invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions not effected shall remain in full force
and effect.
SECTION 10. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE – This ordinance shall take effect immediately after
approval of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
DO 59, S. 2017 – GUIDELINES ON THE WEEKLY IRON ACID SUPPLEMENTATION FOR

FEMALE ADOLESCENT LEARNERS IN PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL
November 27, 2017

DO 59, s. 2017
Guidelines on the Weekly Iron Acid Supplementation for Female Adolescent Learners in
Public High School
To: Undersecretaries
Assistant Secretaries
Bureau and Service Directors
Regional Directors
Schools Division Superintendents
Public Secondary Schools Heads
All Others Concerned
1. The Department of Education (DepEd) issues the enclosed Guidelines on the
Weekly Iron Folic Acid (WIFA) Supplementation for Female Adolescent
Learners in Public High Schools, for the information and guidance of all
concerned.
2. Immediate dissemination of and strict compliance with this Order is directed.
(Sgd)LEONOR MAGTOLIS BRIONES
SecretaryEncl.: As stated
Reference: N o n e
To be indicated in the Perpetual Index under the following subjects:HEALTH EDUCATION
POLICY
SCHOOLS
STUDENTS
DO_s2017_059
DO 39, S. 2017 – OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF

SCHOOL-BASED FEEDING PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL YEARS 2017-2022
August 7, 2017
DO 39, s. 2017
Operational Guidelines on the Implementation of School-Based Feeding Program for School
Years 2017-2022
To: Undersecretaries
Assistant Secretaries
Bureau and Service Directors
Regional Directors
Schools Division Superintendents
Public Elementary Schools Heads
All Others Concerned
1. The Department of Education (DepEd), through the Bureau of Learners Support

Services–School Health Division (BLSS–SHD), shall implement the School-Based
Feeding Program (SBFP) for School Years (SY) 2017-2022 to address
undernutrition among public school children. The SBFP Operational Guidelines is
enclosed.
2. The SBFP covers all Severely Wasted (SW) and Wasted (W) Kindergarten to Grade
6 pupils for SY 2017-2018. The program primarily aims to improve the nutritional
status of the beneficiaries by at least 70% at the end of 120 feeding days.
Secondarily, it aims to increase classroom attendance by 85% to 100% and improve
the children’s health and nutrition values and behavior.
3. All DepEd Orders (DO) and other related issuances, rules and regulations and
provisions which are inconsistent with these guidelines are hereby repealed,
rescinded, or modified accordingly.
4. This policy shall take effect immediately after its publication in www.deped.gov.ph. or
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
5. For more information, all concerned may contact the Bureau of Learner Support
Services–School Health Division (BLSS–SHD), 3rd floor, Mabini Building,
Department of Education (DepEd) Central Office, DepEd Complex, Meralco Avenue,
Pasig City at telephone no. (02) 632-9935 or through email
address: blss.shd@deped.gov.ph.
6. Immediate dissemination of and strict compliance with this Order is directed.
(Sgd)LEONOR MAGTOLIS BRIONES
Secretary
Reference: DepEd Order No. 51, s. 2016

To be indicated in the Perpetual Index under the following subjects:
HEALTH EDUCATION
PUPILS
POLICY
PROGRAMS
SCHOOLS
DO_s2017_039
Republic of the Philippines Department of Health NATIONAL NUTRITION COUNCIL National
Nutrition Council Governing Board Resolution No. 3, Series 2018 APPROVING THE GUIDELINES
ON THE SELECTION OF NON-WOOD HEIGHT AND LENGTH MEASURING TOOL
WHEREAS, the Philippines adopted the WHO Child Growth Standards (WHO-CGS) for determining
the nutritional status of Filipino children under five years old; WHEREAS, the WHO-CGS includes
measurement of length and height of children to more accurately allow comprehensive child growth
assessment; WHEREAS, the NNC adopted the use of wooden height board in the country based on
the recommendations of the World Health Organization where the first prototype of the wooden
height board’s specifications had been drawn and adapted; WHEREAS, the NNC Governing Board
on motion of the Department of Agriculture as Vice-Chair, instructed the Secretariat to explore other
materials apart from wood for the fabrication of height board in view of the country’s policy on total
log ban; WHEREAS, there is a need to field test height boards fabricated by various interest groups
using other materials such as aluminum, acrylic, and plastics, a Field Trial of Alternative Height
Measuring Equipment: Allenstick, Aluminum-Acrylic Height Board, Stadiometer vis-à-vis Wooden
Height Board was conducted to provide evidence on accuracy, reliability, and ease of use of the other
height board models; possibly replacing the wooden height board in the long-term in consideration of
its weight and harm to the environment; WHEREAS, the results of the field trial attested to the
feasibility and practicability of the three (3) height boards tested made from other materials, i.e.
aluminum-acrylic height board, fiberglass, and plastic, as acceptable measuring equipment for
length/height of children in addition to the wooden height board with improvements as indicated in
the study; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, in
consideration of the above premises, the National Nutrition Council Governing Board hereby
approves the Guidelines on the Selection of Acceptable Non-Wood Height and Length Measuring
Tool and use of height boards made of aluminum-acrylic, fiberglass, and plastic as acceptable
measuring equipment in addition to the recommended wooden height board for assessing growth of
children in the Philippines. NNC Governing Board Resolution No. 3 Guidelines on the Selection of
Acceptable Non-Wood Height and Length Measuring Tool RESOLVED FURTHER, that the
National Nutrition Council Secretariat shall ensure the dissemination of this Resolution and shall
provide guidance to local government units and other agencies and organizations producing height
boards, conducting length/height assessment of children and purchasing length/height measuring
equipment. APPROVED this 24th day of April Two Thousand and Eighteen. FRANCISCO T.
DUQUE III, MD, MSc Secretary of Health and Chairperson National Nutrition Council Governing
Board Attested by: Assistant Secretary of Health Maria-Bernardita T. Flores, CESO II Council
Secretary and Executive Director IV National Nutrition Council
Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos revised

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Organized by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and
Technology (FNRI-DOST), an inter-agency and multi-disciplinary technical working group
revised the Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos (NGF) in 2012.
Last updated in 2000, the new NGF was approved by the National Nutrition Council (NNC)
Governing Board through Resolution Number 6, Series of 2012 during its October 31, 2012
meeting.
The revision was in response to the changes in the nutrition situation of the country, as
reported by the FNRI’s 2008 and 2011 survey results, and in lieu of new nutrition information
and related interventions to address malnutrition, the NNC recently stated in its website.
The 2012 Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos includes the following messages:
1. Eat a variety of foods everyday to get the nutrients needed by the body.
2. Breastfeed infants exclusively from birth up to six months, then give appropriate
complementary foods while continuing breastfeeding for two years and beyond for optimum
growth and development.
3. Attain normal body weight through proper diet and moderate physical activity to maintain
good health and prevent obesity.
4. Consume fish, lean meat, poultry, egg, dried beans or nuts daily for growth and repair of
body tissues.
5. Eat more vegetables and fruits everyday to get the essential vitamins, minerals and fiber
for regulation of body processes.
6. Limit intake of salty, fried, fatty and sugar-rich foods to prevent cardiovascular diseases.
7. Consume milk, milk products, and other calcium-rich foods, such as small fish and
shellfish, everyday for healthy bones and teeth.
8. Use iodized salt to prevent Iodine Deficiency Disorders.
9. Consume safe foods and water to prevent diarrhea and other food- and water-borne
diseases.
10. Be physically active, make healthy food choices, manage stress, avoid alcoholic
beverages and do not smoke to help prevent lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases.
Resembling the 2000 NGF, the 2012 version also has ten messages but now infuses the
nutritional and health justification for each.
The reformulated guidelines as a whole aims to improve the nutritional status that enhances
productivity and quality of life of the population, by following desirable dietary practices and
healthy lifestyle, the NNC further said in its website.
In addition, the NGF endeavors in protecting and promoting the nutrition of Filipinos by
providing a solid foundation and starting point for nutrition workers in developing information,
education and communication materials and in conducting educational and advocacy
activities, the statement elucidates.
In 1990, the Philippines’ first nutritional guidelines was called the Dietary Guidelines for
Filipinos and consisted of only five (5) messages.
The 1990 guidelines were reviewed in 1997 to ensure relevance to specific health and
nutrition problems at that time.
By 2000, the NNC organized and coordinated an inter-agency expert group led by the FNRI-
DOST WHICH MODIFIED THE GUIDELINES..
Thus, the Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos were born, bearing ten specifically-targeted
messages promoting good health and proper nutrition.
The FNRI-DOST is the government’s lead agency in food and nutrition research and
development, while the NNC of the Department of Health (DOH) is the country’s highest
policy-making and coordinating body on nutrition.
The FNRI seats as a member of the NNC Governing Board and chairs the Technical
Committee, ably represented by its director, Dr. Mario V. Capanzana.
For more information on food and nutrition, contact Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, FNRI Director,
DOST Compound, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City; 837-2934 & 839-1839
(direct lines); 837-3164 (fax); 837-2071 local 2287, 837-8113 local 325
(trunklines); mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph, mar_v_c@yahoo.com (email); www.fnri.dost.gov.ph
(website).

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1.

Do not be afraid to report violations at www.milkcodephilippines.org. Your identity is strongly

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 51 October 20, 1986

ADOPTING A NATIONAL CODE OF MARKETING OF BREASTMILK SUBSTITUTES, BREASTMILK SUPPLEMENTS

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CORAZON C. AQUINO, President of the Philippines, do hereby order:

Sec. 5. Information and Education

Sec. 6. The General Public and Mothers

Sec. 7. Health Care System

Sec. 8. Health Workers

Sec. 10. Containers/Label

(i) the words "Important Notice" or their equivalent;

(ii) a statement of the superiority of breastfeeding;

Sec. 11. Quality

Sec. 12. Implementation and Monitoring

Minister of Trade and Industry .......................... Member

Minister of Justice .......................................... Member

Minister of Social Servicesl and Development ... Member

The Committee shall have the following powers and functions:

Sec. 13. Sanctions

REPUBLIC ACT No. 10028

AN ACT EXPANDING THE PROMOTION OF BREASTFEEDING, AMENDING FOR THE

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State adopts rooming-in as a national policy to

"d) Breastmilk - the human milk from a mother.

"e) Breastmilk substitute - any food being marketed or otherwise represented

"f) Donor milk - the human milk from a non-biological mother.

"n) Infant formula - the breastmilk substitute formulated industrially in

"o) Lactation management - the general care of a mother-infant nursing

"p) Lactation stations - private, clean, sanitary, and well-ventilated rooms or

"r) Nursing employee - any female worker, regardless of employment status,

"t) Non-health facilities, establishment or institution - public places and

"x) Wet-nursing - the feeding of a newborn from another mother's breast

"y) Workplace - work premises, whether private enterprises or government

Section 7. A new Section 12 is hereby added to read as follows:

Section 9. Section 12 Information Dissemination and Educational Programs of Pregnant

"Employers are also highly encouraged to develop breastfeeding or lactation support

Section 10. A new Section 15 is hereby added to read as follows:

"SEC. 15. Integration of Breastfeeding Education in the Curricula. - To encourage and

Section 11. A new Section 16 is hereby added to read as follows:

Section 12. A new Section 17. Is hereby added to read as follows:

"a) To protect, promote and support breastfeeding in the Philippines as the

"b) To guarantee the rightful place of breastfeeding in society as a time

"c) To provide information about the benefits and superiority of breastfeeding

"The Department of Health shall maintain a list of 'mother-baby-friendly' establishments,

"Government facilities, establishments or institutions shall receive an additional appropriation

Section 15. A new Section 20 shall be added to read as follows:

"Heads, officials and employees of government health and non-health facilities,

"First offense - Reprimand;

"Third offense - Dismissal.

Section 17. Funding. - Government agencies, including their subdivisions and

(Sgd.) PROSPERO C. NOGRALES (Sgd.) JUAN PONCE ENRILE

Republic of the Philippines

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8172

AN ACT PROMOTING SALT IODIZATION NATIONWIDE AND FOR RELATED

SEC. 3. Purposes. — The purposes of this Act are to:

a) contribute to the elimination of micronutrient malnutrition in the country, particularly iodine

i) ensure the sustainability of the salt iodization program.

h) Manufacturer — one who products imports trades in and distributes salt.

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8976 November 7, 2000

(b) DOH - the Department of Health.

(g) NCC - the Governing Board of the National Nutrition Council.

(1) Rice - with Iron;

(2) Wheat flour 0 with vitamins A and Iron;