The Enforcement Division (ED) of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) seized uncertified and nonconforming products in Pasong Tamo, Quezon City last 22 February 2021. The FTEB Enforcement Team inspected, inventoried, and confiscated a total of 389 sanitary wares with an estimated total market value of P213,950.

The confiscated/sealed products did not bear valid Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) stickers or Philippine Standard (PS) quality marks in violation of Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2:2007 and the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 4109 otherwise known as The Product Standards Law.

According to the Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS), the PS marks and ICC stickers serve as the consumers’ guide and assurance that the products they purchase are certified quality and safety products conforming to the relevant Philippine National Standards (PNS). Products covered by the BPS Mandatory Product Certification Scheme are required to bear the PS mark or ICC sticker prior to market distribution.

“The DTI urges consumers to always look for PS marks or ICC stickers when buying products covered by the BPS mandatory certification process — in this way, they would be assured that the products are certified as to safety and excellent quality,” Undersecretary Ruth Castelo of the DTI Consumer Protection Group (CPG) emphasized.

“Even the pandemic cannot stop us from conducting our monitoring and enforcement activities for the safety of our consumers,” DTI-FTEB Director Ronnel Abrenica reiterated.

For the complete list of products that are covered by mandatory certification and must bear the PS mark or ICC sticker, you may visit www.bps.dti.gov.ph. To report establishments selling products without the PS marks or ICC stickers, consumers may call Consumer Care Hotline at DTI (1-384) or send an email to consumercare@dti.gov.ph. ♦

Date of Release: 5 March 2021