4. Labeling Requirements

General Foods
Philippines

This section provides information on labeling requirements and the label approval process.

4.1 Mandatory Labeling Parameters

The labels of all prepacked food shall bear the following minimum mandatory information [1]: 

1. Product name/name of the food
2. Use of the brand name and/or trademark
3. Complete list of ingredients
4. Net content and drained weight
5. Name and address of manufacturer, repacker, packer, importer, trader, and distributor (for imported products, the complete name and address of importer and country of origin shall be declared)
6. Lot identification
7. Storage condition
8. Expiry or expiration date/use-by date/consume-before date (recommended last consumption date)
9. Food allergen information as stated below
10. Instruction for use 
11. Nutrition facts/nutrition information/nutritive value

Specific labeling statements are applicable in specific cases (e.g. for alcoholic beverages, irradiated foods, etc.) [1]

Food allergen information on the label of products containing the following ingredients, but not limited to those listed below, shall be indicated clearly, conspicuously, and indelibly, located directly below the List of Ingredients [1]. The following ingredients known to cause hypersensitivity shall always be declared:

1. Cereal containing gluten, i.e., wheat, rye, barley, oat, spelt or their hybridized strain and products of these;
2. Crustaceans and products of these;
3. Eggs and egg products;
4. Fish and fish products;
5. Peanuts, soybeans, and products of these;
6. Milk and milk products (lactose included);
7. Tree nut and nut products;
8. Sulphite in concentrations of 10 mg/kg or more; and
9. Any other ingredient that may be included by the FDA through appropriate issuance.

4.2 Languages

The language used for all information on the label of food products must be either English or Filipino or a combination thereof [1]. 

In the case of imported food products, labels on which information is declared in a foreign language shall always carry the corresponding English translation.

4.3 Mandatory Information on Stickers

In case of exhaustion of existing labels permitted by the FDA (i.e. approved labels are not available), the use of provisionary sticker labels for the English or Filipino translation shall only be allowed for a maximum period of 6 months [1]. All information should be accurate, legible and must be contained in a single sticker. The sticker must be durable (i.e. cannot be easily removed from the label or packaging).

4.4 Product Legal Name

There is no product legal name for the overall category of "General Foods". Please refer to section 4.4 of product-specific guidebooks for product-specific requirements.

4.5 Product-specific Labeling Statements

Please refer to section 4.5 of product-specific guidebooks for product-specific requirements.

4.6 Authority Approval

All processed foods, including food additives, food supplements, and bottled water, shall first be registered with the Philippines Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before these are distributed, supplied, sold, or offered for sale or use as advertised, among other marketing or promotional activities. Product labels shall be approved during product registration [2].   

Cost and duration

The label is approved during the product registration; no distinct approval is needed [3].

4.7 Additional Notes on Labeling

The company should secure permission from the FDA through notification for any additional label design or other label changes prior to use in advertisement, promotion, and commercial distribution [4].

4.8 References

1. Administrative Order No. 2014-0030

https://www.fda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Administrative-Order-No.-2014-0030.pdf

2. Article 1, 2, and 3 Section VI.A  Administrative Order No. 2014-0029 Rules and Regulations on the Licensing of Food Establishments and Registration of Processed Food, and the Other Food Products, and for Other Purposes

https://www.fda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Administrative-Order-No.-2014-0029.pdf

3. General Regulatory Fees and charges 

https://www.fda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/FINAL-ANNEXES-for-AO-on-INCREASE-OF-FEES.pdf

4. Article 4, Section VI.A  Administrative Order No. 2014-0029 Rules and Regulations on the Licensing of Food Establishments and Registration of Processed Food, and the Other Food Products, and for Other Purposes

https://www.fda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Administrative-Order-No.-2014-0029.pdf