DTI imposes mandatory certification for CRS
Although President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has temporarily suspended the implementation of Republic Act (RA) 11229 or the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act which mandates the use of Child Restraint System (CRS) for private cars, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has included it in the list of products mandatory for certification.
The controversial imposition of the CRS in private cars has earned the ire of most car owners stating that this would mean another cost to them, amid the ongoing contagion.
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go announced Duterte’s decision to suspend the implementation of the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act, acknowledging it would be cumbersome to Filipinos already suffering due to the pandemic.
The controversial imposition of the CRS in private cars has earned the ire of most car owners stating that this would mean another cost to them, amid the ongoing contagion.
According to the Trade Department, listing CRS in the mandatory certification was based on the released Department Administrative Order (DAO) 20-03, Series of 2020, by the DTI-Bureau of Product Standards, requiring all manufacturers and importers of CRS to secure a Philippine Standard (PS) license or an Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) certificate prior to marketing, sale and distribution.
CRS is a device capable of accommodating a child occupant in a sitting or supine position, also designed as to diminish the risk of injury to the wearer, in the event of a collision or of abrupt deceleration of the vehicle, by limiting the mobility of the child’s body.
The DTI-BPS noted the DAO covers six types of CRS, such as lateral-facing (carry-cot), rearward-facing, forward-facing, the combination of rearward/ forward-facing and booster cushion/seat CRS.
“The PS Safety Certification Mark Licensing Scheme shall be available for both local and foreign manufacturers selling and distributing CRS in the Philippine market. The license to use the PS Certification Mark shall be granted to a company found to be compliant with the requirements of the BPS. Regular surveillance activities shall be conducted including factory and product audits,” the DAO read.
It said that the PS license shall be effective from the date of issuance and in full force and effect for a period of three years, subject to annual surveillance audit.
PS license can be suspended, withdrawn or cancelled for cause, at any time and after due process, while all imported CRS covered by a valid PS license shall apply for a Statement of Confirmation on a per shipment, per Bill of Lading/Airway Bill basis to ensure that the imported products came from a valid PS license holder.
Meanwhile, for non-PS certified CRS, the importer shall apply for ICC on per shipment, per Bill of Lading/Airway Bill basis, subject to verification and inspection.
Rule 26 of RA 11229 stated that all brand-new CRS imported into the Philippines prior to the effectivity of the DAO 20-03, series of 2020, and currently in the possession of the importers, distributors, or retailers may be certified by the BPS within 12 months from the effectivity of the order.
“The DTI-BPS aims to ensure that CRS purchased in the market meets the specified safety requirements by requiring all manufacturers and importers to secure the Philippine Standard Safety Certification Mark License or the Import Commodity Clearance certificate prior to selling in the market.” DTI-BPS Director Neil P. Catajay emphasized.