The Bureau of Product Standards of the Department of Trade and Industry recently added 14 household appliances for mandatory certification and testing before they are distributed and sold in the market.

On February 10, 2018, the DTI issued Department Administrative Order No. 18-03 or the Mandatory Philippine National Standards (PNS) for Household and Similar Electrical Appliances. The Order covers 14 products that the DTI-BPS regulates prior to its distribution and sale in the market. These are: spin extractors, fully-automatic washing machines, electric grills, electric ovens, turbo broilers, induction cookers, electric juicers, electric food mixers, electric food processors, electric kettles, electric pressure cookers, electric slow cookers, electric multi-cookers, and, inverter air-conditioners.

“The DAO 18-03 on the mandatory certification of Philippine National Standards declare the products under these standards to go through the process of testing and verification. This will ensure that only safe and quality household and similar electrical appliances are in sold in the country,” DTI- Consumer Protection Group (DTI-CPG) Undersecretary Atty. Ruth B. Castelo underscored. 

Under the DAO 18-03, a manufacturer’s in-plant testing must be able to conduct test parameters as prescribed by the relevant PNS using its own inspection, measuring and, test equipment. For independent testing, samples must be tested at 230 V a.c., 60Hz and should comply with the requirements of the relevant standards by a BPS recognized testing laboratory. 

To ensure that products have been inspected for quality and compliance with standards, the DTI Regional Office III reminds consumers to look for the Philippine Standards mark when buying locally manufactured household appliances while imported mandatory products should bear the Import Commodity Clearance hologram mark with the corresponding serial number provided by the Bureau of Product Standards.

Consumers are also advised to visit the Bureau of Product Standards website bps.dti.gov.ph to check which products are required for mandatory certification. The website also contains the list of companies with PS and ICC mark licenses.♦