INDUSTRY leaders have asked the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to cancel the license of traders importing substandard goods to intensify the enforcement of laws on consumer welfare and product quality.
The Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) said it will submit to the DTI’s Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) its proposed changes to how the rules on product standards should be applied. It argued that consumers risk buying substandard items in the time of Covid-19, as some producers may exploit the situation to benefit from it.
FPI President Jesus L. Arranza, in a statement, pushed the BPS to test all products, whether covered by mandatory certification or not, to make sure they pass government standards.
“Consumers are currently at the mercy of producers and traders of products not categorized under mandatory standards. I learned that those products not under mandatory are not being checked by the BPS,” Arranza disclosed.
Arranza demanded that BPS terminate the license of importers found shipping substandard products, pressing the agency to evaluate the shipments of traders with the same stringency it applies on output of local manufacturers.
Arranza also pleaded with the BPS to suspend the operations of first-time violators. Should they repeat it, he said their business should be shut down for good.
He thinks a similar policy should be adopted for retailers: for the first offense, the substandard items must be confiscated; and on repeat violation, their stores should be padlocked.
According to the FPI chief, resellers should be required to get a certification proving the goods they are peddling passed government testing. In case of a raid, they can show this document to authorities as proof they have no intention of selling substandard products.
Arranza said his group is trying to arrange a meeting with BPS officials to relay their proposals on how the government can tighten its campaign against substandard goods.
He lamented that local manufacturers who abide by laws on product standards are disadvantaged by the entry of substandard imports. Some of them might be compelled to reengineer their mixture and use cheap alternatives in production to compete in the market, he warned.
Arranza reminded the BPS that consumer lives are at risk when manufacturers and importers fail to abide by rules on product standards.
“Remember those product standards are there to protect the lives and limbs of consumers, as well as to ensure they are getting their money’s worth when they buy goods. So we have to be very strict in the implementation, inspection and monitoring of product standards,” he said.
Industries infested with substandard products include steel, glass, ceramic tiles, cement, food, medicine and wood, according to the FPI.
Last week, the DTI announced it is returning plywood to the list of products required to undergo mandatory certification. Under a draft order, manufacturers and importers will be mandated to secure a Philippine Standard license before they can distribute plywood in the market.
In 2015 the DTI removed plywood imports from the list of mandatory certification to narrow the category just to products considered life-threatening.