CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – In view of the Holiday season, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is reminding online consumers anew to buy only certified products including Christmas lights and electrical appliances this holiday season.
Regional Director Leonila Baluyut said that DTI, through the Bureau of Philippine Standards, certifies locally-made mandatory products and imported products through a Philippine Standard (PS) certification and issuance of Import Commodity Clearance (ICC), respectively.
“For Christmas lights, the PS marks and ICC stickers should be visibly seen in individual boxes or packaging of the products, aside from the required markings such as name and address of manufacturer, country of origin, wattage and safety instructions,” Baluyut explained.
Products under mandatory certification include household appliances such as air conditioners, electric fans, and television sets; lighting and wiring devices such as self-ballasted LED lamps, circuit breakers, PVC electrical tapes and extension cord sets.
Other products are deformed steel bars and equal-leg steel angle bars; plastic pipes and ceramic products such as pipes for potable water supply and sanitary wares; cement and plywood; chemical products; and automotive-related products such as pneumatic tires, automotive safety glass, seat belts, and child restraint systems.
Aside from warranty certificates, Baluyut said that buyers must secure the sellers’ contact details and address in case of a problem or issue.
On another note, she advised e-commerce platforms to ensure that all their products on their sites bear the PS mark or the ICC sticker.
“Manufacturers and importers of these products are required to secure PS License or the ICC certificate, respectively, prior to selling or distribution of their products in the country,” Baluyut noted.
This is in line with the Product Standards Law or Republic Act 4109 that prohibits the distribution of mandatory products without the PS mark or ICC sticker in the Philippine market.
For her part, DTI Consumer Protection Group Undersecretary Ruth Castelo reminded online sellers and operators of e-commerce platforms to comply with the requirements of the country’s laws, rules and regulations.
“Failure to comply with the requirements set forth in relevant issuances shall constrain the DTI to undertake necessary legal action against these sellers,” Castelo stressed.
To check the list of approved Christmas lights with valid ICC certification, consumers may visit the Bureau of the Philippine Standards thru: http://www.bps.dti.gov.ph/index.php/product-certification/approved-christmas-lights.
The list of mandatory products can be accessed thru https://bit.ly/BPSmandatoryList. (CLJD/TJBM PIA-3)
