Source: Public Relations and Information Bureau

House approves standardized labeling requirements for certain kids' toys and games

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08 October 2012 12:05:57 PM

Writer: Lorelei V. Castillo, Media Relations Service-PRIB

The House of Representatives has approved on second reading a bill providing protection to children against potential hazards to their health and safety by setting standardized labeling requirements for certain kids' toys and games.

House Bill 6529, a consolidation of House Bills 1221 and 1727, authored respectively by Reps. Diosdado M. Arroyo (2nd District, Camarines Sur) and his mother Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (2nd District, Pampanga) and Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City) and his brother Maximo Rodriguez (Party-list, Abante Mindanao), seeks to prescribe the printing of cautionary statements and require the inclusion of graphics for the labeling of certain toys or games.

Arroyo said in order to achieve this, the State shall provide safety and quality standards for consumer products by requiring that a consumer product for children be marked with or accompanied by clear safety warnings or instructions.

"A law that would protect children against hazards and safety and the provision of adequate rights and means of redress is imperative," the younger Arroyo said.

Rodriguez, for his part, said the measure requires that safety labeling of toy or game be applied to food items which contain or whose packaging includes a toy or descriptive material of a game.

Under the measure to be known as the "Toy and Game Safety Labeling Act of 2011," the Department of Health (DOH) is mandated to publish every six months the list of all misbranded or banned hazardous substances the sale, offer for sale and distribution of which shall not be allowed subject to the requirements of this Act.

The packaging of any descriptive material, and in case of bulk sales, bins, containers for retail display or vending machines from which the unpacked toy or game is dispensed, shall bear the cautionary statements with corresponding graphics intended for the use of children below 14 years old includes a small part and is manufactured for sale, offered for sale or distributed in commerce in the Philippines.

It authorizes the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the DOH to include in their respective annual budgets the amount necessary for the effective implementation of this Act.

The penalties provided range from P10,000 to P50,000 and imprisonment of two years or both.

Co-authors of the measure are Reps. Juan Miguel Macapagal-Arroyo (Party-list, Ang Galing Pinoy, Augusto Boboy Syjuco (2nd District, Iloilo), Lucy Marie Torres-Gomez (4th District, Leyte), Salvador Cabaluna III (Party-list, 1-CARE), Albert Raymond Garcia (2nd District, Bataan), Tomas Apacible (1st District, Bataan), Joel Roy Duavit (1st District, Rizal), Ferjenel Biron (4th District, Iloilo), Arthur Defensor, Jr. (3rd District, Iloilo), Antonio Alvarez (1st District, Palawan), Jerry Treñas (Lone District, Iloilo City), Teddy Casiño (Party-list, Bayan Muna), Linabelle Ruth Villarica (4th District, Bulacan), Hermilando Mandanas (2nd District, Batangas), Danilo Ramon Fernandez (1st District, Laguna), Florencio Garay (2nd District, Surigao del Sur), Marcelino Teodoro (1st District, Marikina City), Anthony G. Del Rosario (1st District, Davao del Norte), Jesus Sacdalan (1st District, North Cotabato), Tomas Osmeña (2nd District, Cebu City), Josefina Joson (1st District, Nueva Ecija), Isidro Rodriguez, Jr. (2nd District, Rizal), Josephine Veronique Lacson-Noel (Lone District, Malabon City), Victor Yu (1st District, Zamboanga del Sur), Jeffrey Ferrer (4th District, Negros Occidental), Nur-Ana Sahidulla (2nd District, Sulu), Antonio Lagdameo, Jr. (2nd District, Davao del Norte), Ma. Theresa Bonoan-David (4th District, Manila), Evelyn Mellana (2nd District, Agusan del Sur), Raden Sakaluran (1st District, Sultan Kudarat), Gabriel Luis Quisumbing (6th District, Cebu), Peter Unabia, Sr. (1st District, Misamis Oriental), Rodel Batocabe (Party-list, Ako Bicol), Neri Colmenares (Party-list, Bayan Muna), Teodorico Haresco, Jr. (Ang Kasangga), Mark Villar (Lone District, Las Piñas City), Perdo Pancho (2nd District, Bulacan), Wilfrido Mark Enverga (1st District, Quezon), Enrique Cojuangco (1st District, Tarlac), Mary Mitzi Cajayon (2nd District, Caloocan City), Sherwin Tugna (Party-list, CIBAC), Arnel Ty (Party-list, LPGMA), Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (1st District, Leyte), Elmer Panotes (2nd District, Camarines Norte) and Catalina Bagasina (Party-list, ALE).

Source: http://www.noodls.com/view/1D9356F78E7F8A72B6DEAFB5F22871DEFE840D95