ILOILO City – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is reminding Ilonggo consumers to mark the holidays safely by buying only certified Christmas decorations, particularly lights.
The product should bear a Philippine Standard (PS) mark or Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) sticker, according to Felisa Judith L. Degala, director of DTI in Iloilo.
These serve as the consumers’ guide and assurance that what they purchase are certified quality, safe and products conforming to the relevant Philippine National Standards (PNS).
“Ang Christmas lights product under mandatory certification. Indi puede maggwa sa merkado kon wala sang proper certification from the Bureau of Philippine Standards,” Degala told Panay News.
Those without the markings or stickers could pose risk to consumers, she added.
“Posible tunaan sia sang sunog sa aton balay,” she said.
How to know if the Christmas lights have ICC stickers or PS marks?
A product with a PS mark means being manufactured in other countries but the Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) has issued the manufacturer an expanded license.
“Indi na kinahanglan nga ipaagi pa sa inspection or testing sang BPS-accredited laboratory. That’s why indi sia ma-consider nga imported,” Degala said.
How about those with the ICC mark?
“Ang manufacturer is not licensed sang BPS. Kon mag-import sila sang Christmas lights ma-undergo gid sa testing sa accredited laboratories. Once makapasar gina-isyuhan sang ICC sticker,” said Degala.
How to spot fake ICC stickers?
One may use the ICC Sticker Verification System Mobile App downloadable from Google Play (for Android users) and App Store (for iOS users). Simply look for the QR code in the ICC sticker, scan it, and check the result.
Among the information found on the QR code and packaging are the brand and name of the manufacturer.
As for the PS mark, buyers just have to ask the retailers for the PS certificate, said Degala.
Based on DTI’s latest monitoring in this city’s downtown area, Degala said all establishments selling Christmas lights are following the standards.
Meanwhile, Degala warned that retailers caught selling Christmas lights without the PS mark or ICC stickers will face violations of the Product Standard Law and the Deceptive Sales Act./PN
