DTI warns public against buying substandard Christmas lights

2008/11/11

DTI warns public against buying substandard Christmas lights

by Venus G. Villanueva

Kalibo, Aklan (11 November) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here is advising Aklanons this Christmas season to buy only Christmas lights with affixed ICC or the Import Commodity Standard stickers.

This is in the case of buying imported Christmas lights, according to Engr. Diosdado P. Cadena, Provincial Director of DTI Aklan. In the case of locally-made products, the items should have Philippine Standards (PS) stickers.

This advice which he gave over radio station IBC-DYRG here to Aklanon consumers was an offshoot of an advisory to all DTI regional/provincial offices, DTI/BPS monitoring and enforcement teams, importers, dealers, agents, wholesalers, retailers, consumers, and all concerned stakeholders from Jesus L. Motoomull, BPS Bureau Director about market monitoring of Christmas lights.

The advisory came with a list of certified Christmas lights which are allowed to be sold in the domestic market.

The list contains those importers whose imported Christmas lights have been issued the necessary ICC and are required to affix the ICC sticker with corresponding ICC number prior to distribution or placing the certified product in the market.

The advisory emphasized that to ensure the safety of buying public, Christmas lights which the ICC was issued prior to year 2007 are no longer allowed to be placed or distributed in the market due to possible product deterioration that may impair product safety, unless otherwise to old stock are re-sampled, retested, passed the test and re-issued new ICC number.

In Aklan, Director Cadena assured that their office is regularly monitoring commercial establishments selling Christmas lights to ensure that those sold are safe and are certified.

He also appealed to the public to be vigilant consumers.

"If they are in doubt about a certain product or they witnessed unfair trade practices, they could always report to us at DTI. DTI will do its part for the empowerment of the consumer. They should always keep themselves informed. A well-informed consumer is a protected consumer," Director Cadena said. (PIA)

Cabatuan.com - Kasimanwa.com - Diosdado Cadena Jr.