Safety Tips in Buying Christmas Lights

(PIA) — As the holiday season draws near, the Department of Trade and Industry reminds consumers to be vigilant and buy only Christmas lights that bear the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) mark to be certain of the product’s performance and safety.

Glen Fernando, Trade and Industry Development Specialist of DTI Antique advised early Christmas shoppers to be conscious of the quality especially on electrical decoration like Christmas lights and other related products to ensure safety.

“Uncertified sets of Christmas lights pose danger and great hazards to its users such as electric shock and overheating that often leads to fire and loss of properties and lives”, he said.

The Department of Trade and Industry regulates the sale of Christmas lights in the local market to protect consumers from the hazards posed by this product.

Under the DTI Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) Product Certification Scheme, all importers of Christmas lights are required to have their import shipments subjected to sampling and testing based on the requirement of PNS on Christmas lights (PNS 189:2000) at the BPS Testing Center and other DTI accredited or recognized Testing Centers prior to its sale.

Only those importers whose products comply with PNS requirements are issued with Import Commodity Clearance and are authorized to affix the ICC sticker in their products.

Prior to purchase of Christmas lights, Fernando reminded the consumers of the following guide. On Markings it should contain the following:

Name of manufacturer/supplier/distributor, address and trademark, rated voltage and rated wattage of the set, rated voltage and rated wattage of the lamp, the words, “For indoor use only”, the number of standard used – PNS 189:2000, country of origin and Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) mark in hologram format

Suitable warnings should also be specified such as:

•Disconnect from supply before removing or inserting any lamp

•Avoid damage to insulation

•To avoid risk of overheating, failed lamps shall be replaced immediately by lamps of the same rated voltage and wattage

•Do not cascade/attach more than the recommended sets of Christmas lights (normally, only 3 sets are allowed to avoid overloading)

•Do not overload electrical outlets (too many plugs in one outlet may create enough heat to start a fire)

•Carefully check each set of lights for signs of socket damage, frayed or scorched wire, loose connections or damaged plugs

•Unplug Christmas lights or any electrical products when not in use.

Fernando urged consumers to be meticulous and buy only certified Christmas Lights. (JCM/DTI/PSM/PIA6 Antique)