MANILA, Philippines—The House of Representatives has passed on third reading a bill that bans the sale of fats and oil that contain a certain level of trans fatty acids in order to safeguard the people's health.

Under House Bill 615, fats and oils that contain trans fatty acids exceeding one half gram per 100 grams of oil or fat would be prohibited. Trans fat is usually found in processed food products.

Camarines Sur Representative Luis Villafuerte, the bill's main author, said trans fat has been shown to increase people's risk for certain illnesses and its use should thus be regulated.

Villafuerte said there has been research that showed trans fat to be toxic and has linked it to accelerated aging and degenerative diseases.

“It affects general metabolism making people more prone to obesity, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, eczema, psoriasis, Parkinson's disease, and other immunologic problems,” Villafuerte said in a statement released by the House of Representatives.