The Department of Trade and Industry Regional Office III (DTI-3) reminds buyers using online selling platforms to be careful in buying mandatory products such as Christmas lights and electrical appliances this holiday season. This reminder comes as the agency has noted the proliferation of online selling sites and social media-based sellers of mandatory products.
Regional Director Leonila T. Baluyut notes that DTI, through the Bureau of Philippine Standards, certifies locally made mandatory products through a Philippine Standard certification and imported products through the issuance of Import Commodity Clearance. For Christmas lights, the PS Marks and ICC 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.
The DTI reminds e-commerce platforms to ensure that all products under the DTI mandatory certification that are offered for sale in their sites should bear the Philippine Standard (PS) mark or the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) sticker. The agency also reminds buyers to ask for the contact information and address of the seller in case there are issues that would arise from the purchase of the products. The DTI also reminds only buyers to ask for warranty certificates for products being sold online.
Under the Product Standards Law or RA 4109, mandatory products are not allowed to be distributed in the Philippine market without the necessary PS mark or ICC sticker. Manufacturers and importers of these products are required to secure the PS License or the ICC certificate, respectively, prior to selling or distribution of their products in the country.
The present list of products under mandatory certification includes 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; steel products such as 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 (CRS).
Under Section 3.5 of DTI’s Department Administrative Order No. 2, series of 2007, online shopping platforms fall under the agency’s watch as it provides that: “Importers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers and those who offer for sale a product covered by mandatory product certification shall sell, or offer for sale only such products that complied with the requisite Philippine National Standard and with the required PS Mark, or with a valid ICC in the case of imported products.”
“We remind online sellers and operators of e-commerce platforms in the country to ensure compliance with the requirements of the aforementioned 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,” warns DTI Consumer Protection Group (CPG) Undersecretary, Atty. Ruth B. Castelo.
Consumers are advised to go to the website of the Bureau of the Philippine Standards thru : http://www.bps.dti.gov.ph/index.php/product-certification/approved-christmas-lights to check the list of Approved Christmas with valid ICC Certification and those with valid PS Certification as of November 22, 2021.
