Binay urges pet food product labelling

Existing laws on food safety in the country would no longer be limited to only those being consumed by humans after Sen. Nancy Binay recently moved to have pet food regulated as well by the government.

Binay introduced Senate Bill No. 2068 requiring the labelling of pet food products, specifying in the packaging all information on the ingredients and additives especially if such additive is a proven carcinogen or proven to cause detrimental side effects based on standards to be set by the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD).

"Pet food is composed of basic nutritional components as well as extra ingredients and additives. The function of additives ranges from preserving the nutritional value of food and its freshness to improving its taste, appearance and smell," the senator said in the explanatory note of her proposed bill titled "An Act Informing the Public About Additives in Pet Food."

Binay further noted that preservatives in commercial pet food, if it reached dangerous levels, could cause allergies, skin problems, gastrointestinal problems and may damage major organs like the kidney, liver and brain.

"Therefore food safety and awareness is essential in order to keep animals safe from illnesses," she said.

"The proposed bill seeks to promote awareness and information for the public regarding the additives in the pet food that they give their pets and possible hazards that they may cause," Binay added. The senator's measure is seen to complement RA 8485 otherwise known as The Animal Welfare Act of 1998.

RA 8485 was designed to protect and promote the welfare of all animals in the Philippines by supervising and regulating the establishment and operations of all facilities utilized for breeding, maintaining, keeping, treating or training of all animals either as objects of trade or as household pets.

The existing landmark legislation that ensures food safety for humans from the farm to the dinner table, the Food Safety Act of 2013, became effective only three years ago.