DTI asks online shopping sites to only sell certified products

The Department of Trade and Industry Consumer Protection Group (DTI-CPG), through the Bureau of Philippine Standards (DTI-BPS), reminds e-commerce platforms to ensure that all the products they sell have Philippine Standard (PS) mark or the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) sticker.

The DTI-BPS issued this reminder due to the increasing reports and complaints on the influx of uncertified products being sold online.

Republic Act (RA) 4109 or the “Standards Law” and RA 7394 or the “Consumer Act of the Philippines” mandate the DTI-BPS to implement the PS Quality and/or Safety Certification Mark Licensing Scheme and the ICC Certification Scheme.

Under these certification schemes, mandatory products are not allowed to be distributed in the market without the required 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 distributing their products in the Philippines.

The present list contains 87 products under the mandatory certification schemes, including 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. You may check out the complete list of products through the BPS Standards and Conformance Portal.

According to the DTI, online shopping platforms fall within the ambit of Section 3.5 of the DTI’s Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2, Series of 2007, which 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.

Source: DTI