DTI set to issue amended rules on flat glass

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is set to issue amended rules covering mandatory certification for flat glass to take into account concerns raised by importers.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said consultations are being conducted with importers for the revision of Department Administrative Order (DAO) 19-05 covering the mandatory certification of flat glass products.

“I asked the consumer protection group and consultations are ongoing. Usually, it takes two weeks, three weeks, then, we will issue revised (rules),” he said.

He said based on the consultations conducted so far, those bringing in customized glass used by developers for condominiums or other high-rise buildings are fine with complying with having suppliers with Philippine Standard (PS) license, and the on-site tests, but not per shipment.

“For customized, not for retail, they agree with compliance. They said it’s hard to obtain per shipment. That’s in our draft. We will change system to anyone who would have certified PS supplier and also still have a mandatory check on site,” he said.

For other flat glass products being sold or for retail in the country, the rules issued earlier would apply.

Last March, DTI issued DAO 19-05 subjecting flat glass products to mandatory certification again to ensure consumers are provided products which are safe and of good quality.

Flat glass, which is used for buildings, was previously part of the list of products under mandatory certification or those which need to secure an Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) first before being sold in the market, but delisted in 2015 to facilitate issuance of ICC and to limit the list only to products considered life threatening.

There were claims flat glass is only used as raw material by glass processors, and as such, allegedly does not pose risk to consumers.

DTI’s regular monitoring showed, however, that flat glass products are also directly distributed or offered for sale by glass suppliers and/or installers in the retail market, prompting the need to subject it once again to mandatory certification.

Implementation of DAO 19- 05 has been suspended as importers secured court orders from Makati City and Pasay City courts against the order.

Under DAO 19-05, the DTI would only allow glass products sourced from glass manufacturing plants holding a valid PS quality and/or safety certification mark license, to be distributed, sold, and used in the country.

Firms applying for PS license shall be subject to factory and product audit to be conducted by the DTI and recognized auditing bodies where in samples will be drawn for all types and sizes of the product.

The DAO specifies the amount of samples and decision parameters per volume of shipment and the license will only be issued upon satisfactory evaluation of the factory and product conformance to specific Philippine National Standards of the product.

The PS license will be effective for three years.

As for imported glass products, importers will have to apply for a statement of confirmation on a per product, per bill of lading basis to make sure the imports come from a manufacturer with PS license, and conforms with the standards set.

Lopez said while DTI would release amended rules to cover flat glass, the revised rules would not necessarily take immediate effect.

“We will still have to deal with the case. Some (issues) will be solved. We’ll just have to continue defense in court until the lifting of injunction. We trust this is consumer protection. It’s consumer protection for safe products. Who should fight against that?” he said.