DTI alerts consumers on Christmas lights

By Joel C. Atencio

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Tuesday urged consumers to be vigilant in buying Christmas lights, most of which do not bear the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) mark that ensures the quality of the product.

DTI officials said consumers are encouraged to look for the brands of Christmas lights that have passed the required safety tests based on the Philippine National Standards (PNS) 189:2000 with the ICC numbers issued from 2008 to 2010.

Under DTI-BPS (Bureau of Product Standard) product certification scheme, a regulated product or a product covered by mandatory certification is submitted to the BPS Testing Center or any BPS-recognized laboratory for a series of tests, prior to its distribution or sale in the market.

DTI Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said no sets of Christmas lights with Philippines Standard mark can be found in the market since the DTI-BPS has not awarded PS license to any manufacturer since 2007.

Maglaya said the DTI central office has declared that only those importers issued ICC certificates from 2008 to the present can sell Christmas lights with ICC marks.

Those products with ICC marks have passed the four mandatory requirements for critical parameters that include torque temperature rise, wire tests, and ball pressure.

Aside from the ICC marks, consumers should also look for required labels like the rated voltage at rated wattage set and lamp, Christmas lights number standards, importer’s or distributor’s name, address, and trademark, Maglaya added.

She also said buyers have to be very cautious in buying Christmas lights because substandard products may cause overheating, short circuits, and electric shock that may also lead to fires, loss of lives and damaged properties.

As of Nov. 3, the DTI-BPS has issued ICC certificates to only 20 distributors/importers of 31 brands to use and place ICC marks on their Christmas lights products.

Among the certified brands are Golden Hit Corporation, Ikhea Lighting Inc., P&J Multitrade Venture Inc., Sheratone Industries, Inc., Shining East Marketing Corporation and Wexford International Sales Inc. (PNA/PIA0-BST)