THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) last week has warned consumers from buying substandard Christmas lights sold at cheaper prices.
“The DTI Provincial Office reminds the public to see to it that these should carry the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) sticker, which ensures the product’s quality and safe use,” a DTI press statement said.
It was learned that substandard Christmas lights can be easily identified because of its thin wires and short temperature tolerance.
When these products are turned on for a considerable time, it should be able to withstand the increase in temperature or it may cause untoward accidents like overheating, electric shock and fire.
Even the Bureau of Fire Protection has joined the DTI in its campaign to ban the sale of substandard Christmas lights because these are potential fire hazards.
DTI provincial director Marichu Malate-Atay, in a visit at her office last October, said their office is continually mobilizing their personnel to inspect city establishments and make sure that Christmas lights bear the ICC sticker.
Atay added that the public should be doubly watchful on the mentioned products since even the ICC sticker can still be counterfeited.
Last August, the DTI reported that it has improved the security features of the ICC mark to deter the influx of uncertified imported items that bear a fake ICC seal.
The DTI, under the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS), issues ICC certificates to all importers of Christmas lights.
According to the DTI, before these stickers are given, importers are required to have their import shipments to sampling and testing based on the requirement of Philippine National Standards (PNS) on Christmas lights before these are offered for sale in stores.
A product that passes the PNS safety test and inspection based on a specific standard are then affixed with the ICC mark.
Atay urged consumers to refer the authenticity of the ICC marks to a list of certified Christmas lights which is displayed at different business establishments in Pagadian and at DTI-ZDS Provincial Office.
REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA
“The DTI Provincial Office reminds the public to see to it that these should carry the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) sticker, which ensures the product’s quality and safe use,” a DTI press statement said.
It was learned that substandard Christmas lights can be easily identified because of its thin wires and short temperature tolerance.
When these products are turned on for a considerable time, it should be able to withstand the increase in temperature or it may cause untoward accidents like overheating, electric shock and fire.
Even the Bureau of Fire Protection has joined the DTI in its campaign to ban the sale of substandard Christmas lights because these are potential fire hazards.
DTI provincial director Marichu Malate-Atay, in a visit at her office last October, said their office is continually mobilizing their personnel to inspect city establishments and make sure that Christmas lights bear the ICC sticker.
Atay added that the public should be doubly watchful on the mentioned products since even the ICC sticker can still be counterfeited.
Last August, the DTI reported that it has improved the security features of the ICC mark to deter the influx of uncertified imported items that bear a fake ICC seal.
The DTI, under the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS), issues ICC certificates to all importers of Christmas lights.
According to the DTI, before these stickers are given, importers are required to have their import shipments to sampling and testing based on the requirement of Philippine National Standards (PNS) on Christmas lights before these are offered for sale in stores.
A product that passes the PNS safety test and inspection based on a specific standard are then affixed with the ICC mark.
Atay urged consumers to refer the authenticity of the ICC marks to a list of certified Christmas lights which is displayed at different business establishments in Pagadian and at DTI-ZDS Provincial Office.
REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA
