REPUBLIC ACT NO.

7394
“The Consumer Act of the Philippines”
 Why was the law enacted ?

• Seeks to carry out the 1987 Constitutional Mandate of protecting

consumers against trade malpractice and substandard and
hazardous products.

• Protect and promote the right to health of the people.

• Establish and maintain an effective food and drug regulatory system.

• Government response to UN Secretary General request to adopt

minimum guidelines on consumer protection.
 Evolution of Consumer Protection in the Philippines
1985 - The key principles of consumer protection were first enshrined at
an international level in the UN Guidelines for Consumer
Protection (UNGCP)

July 22,1991 – S.B. 1820, H.B. 33757 – Bill on the enactment of the
Consumer Act of the Philippines

April 13, 1992 – approved at both houses

July 15, 1992 – became effective as a law

1993 – Administrative Order No. 9, Rules and Regulations Implementing

R.A. 7394
 Basic Policy

• Protection against hazards to health and safety

• Protection against deceptive, unfair and unconscionable sales acts

and practices

• Provision of information and education to facilitate a sound choice

• Provision of adequate rights and redress for consumers

 DA Administrative Order No. 9
Series of 1993
“Rules and Regulations Implementing R.A. No. 7394
or the “Consumer Act of the Philippines”
 Implementing Agencies

• National Meat Inspection Service

• Bureau of Animal Industry
• Bureau of Plant Industry
• Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
• Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority
• Sugar Regulatory Administration
• Philippine Coconut Authority
 Jurisdiction
• NMIS- processed* and unprocessed meat, dressed chicken,
processed hides and casings

*Under Food Safety Act, all processed meat will

be transferred to FDA
 Functions of Implementing Agencies
• Develop and establish quality safety standards
• Inspect and analyze to determine conformity to established
quality and safety standards
• Levy, assess, collect and retain fees as necessary to cover
inspection, certification, analysis and tests of samples
• Accredit independent, competent testing laboratories.
 Provisions Covered by
Consumer Act
for NMIS Implementation
Rule IV Consumer Product Quality and Safety Standard

Section 7. Product Quality and Safety Standards

Product Safety and Quality . . .
1. Meat Standards
a. Meat selection
The physical property of fresh meat should conform to the
standard set by NMIS.
b. Meat Cuts
Should conform to the standards set by
NMIS and BPS.
- Phil National Standard for Pork Cuts –PNS/BAFPS 41:2008
 LOIN (LOIN)

TENDERLOIN (LOMO)
BOSTON
SHOULDER

(PAYPAY)

HIND LEG
(PIGUE)

HEAD
(ULO)

HINDSHANK and FOOT

FORESHANK and FOOT BELLY (LIEMPO)
PICNIC SHOULDER (PATA HULIHAN)
(PATA UNAHAN)
(KASIM)
 Product Safety and Quality . . .
1. Meat Standards
c. Meat Branding
• The logo bearing “Inspected and
Passed” with the name of the
province, town and city; accreditation
no. of slaughterhouse and the official
NMIS mark which can be in the form
of a label, seal of stamp.
 Product Safety and Quality . . .
2. Classification of Abattoir
• All meat facilities

Slhs, MPPs, CSs, rendering plants, and PDPs shall be

accredited and classified according to their facilities,
butchering procedures and meat and meat product handling
practices, and disposal of effluents and condemns.
 Product Safety and Quality . . .
3. Storage and Transport
1. Only meat and meat products and carcasses of livestock
and poultry that are slaughtered in accredited abattoirs and
PDPs and accompanied by an MPPIC duly issued by
authorized NMIS officers and LGUs Inspection Officers shall
be allowed for transport from slaughterhouse to its point of
destination.

2. Protected from contamination and damage during transport.

 Product Safety and Quality . . .

3. Storage and Transport

3. Should be transported only through accredited meat vans.
4. Meat should be clearly identifiable while being stored.
5. Temperature should be maintained at or below a specified range.
6. Should be stored in MPPs at the specified temperature.
7. Should be transported in suitably equipped vehicles.
 Rule IV. Section 10
• Imported products
All agricultural products offered for importation into the
customs of Philippine territory shall comply with the
requirements of the implementing agencies.

NMIS Requirements
• Imported meat must be covered by a VQC and must be
inspected by the controlling authority.
• All meat importers must be accredited.
 Rule IV. Section 10
• Consumer Products for export
- shall meet the requirements of the implementing
agencies.

NMIS Requirements
• All meat to be exported must come from slaughterhouses
or dressing plants accredited as “AAA”.
Fresh or meat products covered by MMPIC
Laboratory Analysis

Safe/fit for human Unsafe/unfit for

consumption human consumption

Hold
OMIC
Re-sampling of fresh batch

BAI
OMIC
 Rule V. Labelling and Packaging
• Section13. Enforcement of compulsory labeling and fair
packaging to enable consumers to obtain accurate
information as to the nature, quality and quantity of the
contents of consumer products.

• A.O 24 Series of 2010-General Guidelines on Labeling

of Meat and Meat Products
1. Packaging
• Wrapping should take place in hygienic conditions
• Materials should be strong enough
• Uncolored transparent covering should not be reused
• Packaging processes should not transmit contaminated or
objectionable substances
2. Labeling
• Carcasses, whole sale cuts, processed meats, edible meat
by- products, the containers holding meat must contain the
following:
• Name of product/s
• Ingredients
• Quantity
• Inspection stamp
• Name and address of processor
• Date of preparation
• Consumption date
 Rule VIII. Consumer Complaints

Establishment for systematically logging in,

investigating and responding to consumer
complaints.
 Remedy
• Assurance to recall, replace, repair or refund the money value of the
defective products distributed.

• Assurance to reimburse the complainant out of any money or

property in connection with the complaint, including expenses in
making or pursuing the complaint.

• Condemnation or seizure of the consumer product found to be

hazardous to health and safety.
 Prohibited Acts
It shall be unlawful for any person to

• Manufacture for sale, offer for sale, distribute in commerce, or import into the
Philippines any consumer product which is not in conformity with an applicable
consumer product quality or safety.

• Manufacture for sale, offer for sale, distribute in commerce or import to the
Phil. any consumer product which has been declared as banned consumer
products.

• Refuse to access to or copying of pertinent records or fail to refuse to permit

entry of or inspection by authorities.
 Penalties
• Fine: <Php1,000.00 but not >Php10,000.00

• Imprisonment of < 2 months but not >1 year

• Both upon the discretion of the court

 Penalties
• Fine: not <Php500.00 but not >Php20,000.00

• Imprisonment of < 3 months but not >2 years

• Both upon the discretion of the court

 State of Consumer Protection Worldwide
Global survey on the state of consumer protection around the world participated by
70 consumer groups from 54 countries worldwide by Consumers International (CI),
November 2013-January 2013
Activities carried out by Consumer Organizations

Consumer Education 94%

Complaints Handling / Advice 87%
Campaigning and Research-based 84%
Advocacy
Monitoring Laws and Policies 81%
Overall, it appears that despite the prioritisation of consumer education by consumer
associations, it is very under-developed by governments despite being seen by some
international institutions as a key element of consumer protection.
 Measures that Strengthen Consumer Protection
• Consumer Education/Awareness
Governmental support to consumer organizations
• Access to cheap, simple, quick redress mechanisms
• Addressing emerging consumer concerns
• Inter-agency coordination
• Addressing environmental impact
• Accountability / transparency of consumer protection
authorities
 Priority Issues for Consumer Organizations

Food Safety 94%

Environment 75%
Energy 83%
Water 63%
Financial Services
Eight (8) Basic Consumer Rights
• Right to basic needs
• Right to safety
• Right to information
• Right to choose
• Right to representation
• Right to redress
• Right to consume education
• Right to a healthy environment
Five (5) Responsibilities of Consumers

• Critical awareness
• Action
• Social concern
• Environmental awareness
• Solidarity
Five (5) Responsibilities of Consumers

• Critical awareness
• Action
• Social concern
• Environmental awareness
• Solidarity