A few days before the New Year, the Department of Trade and Industry’s Consumer Protection Group (DTI-CPG) cracked down on establishments selling unlicensed fireworks and seized some 573 pieces of firecrackers worth P26,340 in Bocaue, Bulacan.
DTI-CPG Undersecretary Atty. Ruth B. Castelo led the activity which was conducted by the DTI-Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB), in coordination with the DTI-Bulacan Provincial Office and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The surprise spot-checking activity in several stalls selling fireworks in the Fireworks Capital of the Philippines is designed to ensure that the products being sold in the market are compliant with safety standards.
Out of 26 firms inspected, three were issued Notices of Violation (NOVs) for apparent noncompliance of technical regulations on Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 02 Series of 2007 or Defining the Responsibilities and Liabilities of Manufacturers, Importers, Traders, Wholesalers, Distributors, Retailers, Service Providers and or their Agents, with regard to Products/Services covered by Philippine Standards (PS) Certification Mark Scheme and Prescribing Penalties for Violation thereof of the DTI-Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) and Article 77 of Republic Act 7394, otherwise known as Consumer Act of the Philippines.
Undersecretary Castelo noted that there has been an improvement in the compliance of firework retailers in Bulacan as compared to last year’s enforcement operation. In 2020, the DTI-FTEB’s monitoring and enforcement team reported that only one out of 15 monitored establishments, was compliant and the remaining 14 firms were selling 1,271 pieces of unlicensed fireworks worth Php280,416, which the team had confiscated.
According to DTI-BPS, as of 22 December 2021, there are only six licensed manufacturers that can make and supply fireworks in the country this year, namely Dragon Fireworks Incorporated, Diamond Fireworks Inc., Leegendary Fireworks, Inc., Pegasus Fireworks, Phoenix Fireworks, and Double L Fireworks. These companies passed the necessary requirements and testing conducted by the BPS.
“Buying uncertified fireworks can cause damage to property or even pose danger to life. We are here to remind everyone to only buy and support licensed fireworks produced by certified and authorized manufacturers because these products underwent the conformity assessment process, including inspection and testing prior to market distribution to ensure the safety of the general public,” Undersecretary Castelo reiterated.
Browse and see the official list of BPS Certified Philippine Standard (PS) Mark License holders for Fireworks covered by Philippine National Standards (PNS) 1220-1:1994 and PNS 1220-2:1994 by visiting: http://www.bps.dti.gov.ph/images/SCD_Documents/FIREWORKS_06_DEC_2021.pdf
Consumers are encouraged to report illegally labeled products and illegitimate fireworks retailers by calling 1-DTI (1-384) or by sending consumer complaints to consumercare@dti.gov.ph.
