Senator Lito Lapid has renewed his call for the government to require manufacturers to put precautionary labels on household items which may contain toxic and hazardous substances.
“We want to warn our countrymen that the simple things we used at home contain poisonous chemicals that endanger our health,” he said.
Lapid has filed Senate Bill No. 58 also known as the Hazardous Household Substances Labelling Act, which intends to compel manufacturers to put warning labels on household items.
He said that these items contain substances that are considered toxic, corrosive, harmful irritants, strong sensitizers or flammable through a standard of signage and symbols that would alert consumers of the potential dangers of the products.
According to Lapid, this measure seeks to protect the health and safety of people by helping them identify hazardous chemicals at home.
He also noted that consumers are unaware that many household items contain chemicals that may cause serious injury and health issues.
With this, it is only necessary for companies to not only disclose the toxic contents of the products they manufacture but also to warn the consumers of the risks of using the said products, Lapid said.
Apart from placing warning signs and symbols that would alert consumers of the potential dangers of the products, the bill also aims to require the companies to provide instructions on the first-aid steps to take in case of accidents caused by improper handling or storage of the products.