DTI Cautions Public on Buying Christmas Lights

Davao City – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reminds again consumers to be cautious when buying their Christmas lights to start the season.

The Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) allows Christmas lights/lighting chains with Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) issued from January 2013 up to the present to be sold in the market.

Other important labels that consumers should check on the package of Christmas lights are the name, address and trademark of the importer or the distributor of the product to easily track the distributor for possible complaints.

“When buying Christmas lights, always look for the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) sticker either on the wire or on the package of the Christmas lights to ensure that the product has passed safety tests. The recommended usability period for Christmas lights is three years,” reminds DTI-Davao Regional Director Maria Belenda Q. Ambi.

DTI monitoring and enforcement activities shall be conducted to ensure that uncertified Christmas lights will not proliferate in the market.

Manufacturers, importers and retailers found not complying with the BPS Product Certification Scheme will be filed with administrative charges for violation of the DTI Department Administrative Order (DAO) 2:2007; Republic Act (RA) 7394, otherwise known as the Consumer Act of the Philippines; and RA 4109 or the Standards Law.

Inquiries can be addressed to DTI-Davao region at 4F Mintrade Realty Building, corner Monteverde and Sales Streets, Davao City through landline number (082) 224-0511, local 417 and 420 (Consumer Protection Services Division). (DTI11/WDG/jmm)