RA 7394

All consumer products domestically sold whether manufactured locally or imported shall indicate the following in their respective labels of packaging:

• Its correct and registered trade name or brand name;
• its duly registered trademark;
• its duly registered business name;
• address of the manufacturer, importer, repacker of the consumer product in the Philippines.;
• its general make or active ingredients;
• net quantity of contents, in terms of weight, measure or numerical count rounded off to at least the nearest tenths in the metric system;
• country of manufacture, if imported;
• information whether the consumer product is manufactured, refilled or repacked under license from a principal,

Q. What is the manner of replacing labels?

• Any word, statement or information required by or under authority of these rules shall appear on the labeling conspicuously and render them likely to be read and understood by ordinary individuals.
• Labels should not be easily removed, detached or erased under ordinary handling of the product.

Q. What are the labeling requirements in the principal display panel?

Trade name or brand name, general make or active ingredients, weight, net quantity or size.

Q. What are the labeling requirements in the secondary display panels?

• Registered trademark and registered business name;
• Address of the manufacturer, importer, repacker, refiller or consignee;
• Whether the product is manufactured, refilled or repacked under license from a principal and the name and address of the latter;
• Country of manufacture (in case of imported products);
• technical or expert knowledge needed to operate or assemble the product;
• Warning of flammability, toxicity or poisonous character, corrosiveness, when required;
• Information as to allergic reaction, when required;
• In case of mechanical & electrically powered toys, the age of the child for which the toys are intended;
• Warning, in case the product can cause an accident if not handled or used in the proper way;
• Warning, where damage is likely to result in non-compliance to the limited use of a product;
• Philippine Product Standard Mark;
• Other certification of compliance to standards set by other government agencies concerning safety, quality, fill weight or measurement.

Q. What are the labeling requirements in the principal or secondary display panels or in the literature?

• Warning, and all the required information on flammability, toxicity, corrosiveness, strong sensitizer or allergic reactions;;
• Directions for use or assembly where the same is required;
• All the required information on expressed warranties;
• Certification of compliance to standards set by a private organization or institution, whether in the Philippines or abroad or by an agency of a foreign government.

Q. When is the literature for a consumer product required?

Where the literature for a product is placed inside its packaging, the seller shall provided the buyer with a copy thereof for his perusal or examination at the time of purchase.

Q. What are additional labeling requirements for certain products?

The following are the additional labeling requirements:

• If the product is flammable
  • The temperature of heat that can trigger the burning of the product;
  • Precautions against accidental burning.
• If the product is toxic or poisonous, the label shall contain the word: "Warning : Poisonous" or "Warning : Toxic" or the accepted or required graphic representation of the same. The label shall also contain the following :
  • Manner by which said toxicity may effect a person, whether by: ingestion, inhalation, bodily contact, etc.;
  • Possible symptoms of poisoning that may be felt or experienced by the victim such as vomiting, fever, pain, dizziness, etc.;
  • First-aid treatment that may be administered on the person affected;
  • Contraindications, actions, food or drugs which shall not be taken by the victim as they might aggravate this conditions;
  • When it is crucial to have the victim attended by physician.
• If the product is corrosive
  • First-aid treatment that may be administered to the person affected;
  • Acts, food or drugs which shall not be taken by the victim as they might aggravate his condition;
  • When it is crucial to have the victim attended by the physician.
• If the product is a strong sensitizer or may cause allergic reactions
  • Manner by which the product may sensitizer or cause allergic reaction to a person, whether by ingestion, inhalation, bodily contact, etc.;
  • Possible sensitization or allergic symptoms that may be felt or experienced by the victim such as vomiting, fever, pain, etc.;
  • First-aid treatment that may be administered to the person affected;
  • Acts or drugs which shall not be taken by the victim as it will aggravate his condition;
  • When it is crucial to have the victim attended by a physician.
• If it has complicated mechanical, electrical or electronic appliances, equipment or products to be assembled and those needing further assembly shall contain the following information:
  • Directions for use or assembly, which shall be in clear and understandable words. Artistic, graphical representations or illustrations may be used in addition to the words in the directions;
  • Whether the product is for use only by technical people or the knowledge that is necessary in order to use or assemble the product;
  • Necessary accessories to use with the product or if the product is an accessory, the necessary principal product with which the same may be used;
  • Whether a technical person or an expert is needed to assemble the product.
• If an electrical or electronic appliance or accessory may be used with a specific wattage, voltage or amperes, such shall be embossed, painted, pasted or otherwise printed on the product without danger of getting easily erased or removed by ordinary usage.
• If the toy is mechanical electrically powered, its label shall contain information as to age of the child for which the toy is intended.
• If the product is prone to cause an accident if not handled or used in the power way, the label shall contain the following warning: "Caution/Warning: Dangerous if not handled properly" or words to such effect.
• If damage is likely to result from non-compliance to the limited use for a product, a statement such as
  " Warning : For limited use only " or words to such effect shall appear in the label.

Q. What goods are exempted from the Labeling Law?

• Newspaper, magazines, periodicals and other reading matters are exempted because the contents or sample thereof may be inspected by the buyer upon purchase.
• Consumer product which are further retailed in very small quantities by small stores or in public markets which by tradition are wrapped in ordinary paper, plastic or used containers.
• If the buyer himself provides the container for his purchase of a consumer product retailed in small quantities.

Q. What are the prohibited acts on labeling?

• The words "No return, No exchange", or any other words to such effect shall not appear on any label or literature of a consumer product or on any receipt for the purchase of such product.
• It shall be unlawful for any person, either as principal or agent engaged in the labeling or packaging of any consumer products to display or sell consumer whose label does not conform to the rules and regulations of RA 7394.

Q. What is the penalty for the violation of this provisions?

A fine of not less than five hundred pesos (P500.00) but not more than twenty thousand pesos (P20, 000.00) or imprisonment of not less than three (3) months but not more than two (2) years or both, at the discretion of the court: Provided, that if the consumer product is one which is not a food, cosmetic, drug, device or hazardous substance, the penalty shall be a fine of not less than two hundred pesos (P 200.00 ) but not more than five thousand pesos (P5,000.00 ) or imprisonment of not less than one (1) month but not more than (1) year or both at the discretion of the court.