A bill seeking to require proper labeling of genetically modified plants, food and other products has been filed at the Senate.

Senate Bill 2052, filed by Sen. Pia S Cayetano, penalizes persons who knowingly distribute such products without the proper labels with up to six months imprisonment plus fines of up to P100,000.

"As of this recent time, the non-hazardous nature of GMOs (generically-modified organisms) has yet to be established, thus, consumers must be given the informed choice on whether or not the product they are buying contained or were derived from GMOs" Ms. Cayetano said in the bill's explanatory not.

The bill mandates that plants (including seeds, bulbs, graft and other parts which may be used for propagation), food and nonfood products containing GMOs or were derived from biotechnological processes must be labeled as such.

The following must be printed on the label:
- that the product contains or was derived from a GMO;
- that biotechnology was used to genetically modify the organism contained in the product, and which technique was used to do such: recombinant nucleic acid techniques, direct introduction of prepared genetic material, cell fusion or hybridization techniques;
- that the product has undergone risk assessment, and the results of such test must also be printed on the label, and;
- that such product has been authorized for distribution by the Department of Agriculture (DA) or the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD).

The bill also task the DA, BFAD and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to prepare a complete list of all product containing GMOs which have been authorized to be distributed in the country.