We are reiterating our commitment to protect consumers from uncertified products. This serves as a warning to all establishments selling substandard and uncertified products

Millions of pesos worth of steel products reaching the National Capital Region without import commodity clearance (ICC) have been seized by the Department of Trade and Industry.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has confiscated P17 million worth of products in the National Capital Region and nearby provinces in the first eight months of the year alone for allegedly violating technical regulations, specifically product certification.

According to the trade agency, its enforcement arm, the Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau has seized 84,477 pieces of construction materials, household items and electrical products for alleged violation of DTI-implemented technical regulations.

From January to August, the FTEB monitored 9,764 firms engaged in selling such items and products. Of the number, it issued 550 notices of violation to those found allegedly selling substandard and uncertified products that did not have the Philippine Standard (PS) or Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) seal.

Among the confiscated products include equal-leg angle bar, deformed steel bar, rerolled steel bar, GI wires, electric fan, circuit breakers, socket-outlet, snap switches, CFL, fuse holders, inner-tube for motorcycle tires, electrical tape, uPVC rigid electrical conduit, sanitary wares, Edison screw lamp holder and Monobloc stool/chair pipes.

Recent data from the DTI show the bulk of confiscated products were steel valued at P9.023 million. This was nearly 88 percent higher than the P74,937 worth of seized steel products in 2018.

So far this year, the DTI has confiscated 59,103 steel products, higher from just 482 in 2018. It has also issued NOV to 59 firms selling steel, an increase from just three NOV issued the prior year.

“We are reiterating our commitment to protect consumers from uncertified products. This serves as a warning to all establishments selling substandard and uncertified products. Apart from the fine and confiscation of products, they are also losing their investments. Their credibility as well as safety of consumers and the public are what’s at stake here,” DTI secretary Ramon Lopez said.

As part of its administrative process, the DTI said it gave the firms with NOV 48 hours to submit their written explanation to the trade agency before it files formal charges.

P1.8 billion worth of penalties has been imposed on 34 business establishments which failed to comply with the mandatory certification as well as other technical regulations.

Meanwhile, the DTI also reminded buyers to look for the PS and ICC mark before purchasing items, especially products used for construction.