DTI destroys P1.8-M uncertified products

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) destroyed on Friday a total of 3,110 CONfiSCATED AND FORFEITED PRODUCTS WORTH roughly P1.8 million for being non-compliant with safety and quality standards.

The seized items include 2,202 fireworks, 635 helmets and their visors, 89 monobloc chairs, 56 sanitary wares, and 128 vapor product devices that were previously stored at the DTI-Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau warehouse.

According to the agency, the destruction of the uncertified products aims to promote awareness of the technical regulations covered by the mandatory certification process and uphold consumers’ right to safety.

DTI Assistant Secretary

Amanda Marie Nograles told The Manila Times that the products were seized in the last seven years and noted that more uncertified items are yet to be discarded.

“These confiscated items did not undergo the process of a PS (Philippine Standard) mark or an ICC (import commodity clearance) sticker. These pose danger or a hazard to the market,” Nograles said in Filipino.

“Some of those have PS marks, but they were counterfeit. So we really need to destroy them,” she added.

Nograles has encouraged consumers to use the ICC verification app to check the legitimacy of the ICC stickers and visit the agency’s website to access the legitimate PS marks that correspond to certain products.

She also gave assurances to the public that the DTI would continue to closely monitor the consumer market to stop the spread of uncertified products.

The destruction of confiscated items was in line with the agency’s observance of World Consumers’ Rights Day, observed on the 15th of March of every year.