By Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is tightening the rules and guidelines on the issuance and verification of the new Philippine Standard (PS) or safety certification mark to strictly ensure that only products produced by manufacturers with a valid PS License are affixed with tamper proof PS stickers and allowed to be distributed in the local market.
DTI logo (Manila Bulletin file photo)
In a draft Department Administrative Order (DAO), the DTI said the new DAO will serve as an immediate guide for the consumers in regards to the quality and/or safety of the products. The proposed DAO as prepared by the DTI’s Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) also establishes strict control over the use of the PS Mark by ensuring that the said certification mark is issued only to legitimate license holders.
The new DAO also seeks to preserve the integrity of the PS Certification Mark Licensing Scheme.
In crafting the new guidelines, the DTI noted that the existing policy on the use of the PS Mark allows the manufacturers to print the said mark on products included in the scope of certification of their PS Licenses is vulnerable to abuse by unscrupulous persons trying to imitate the PS Mark and affix it to products not certified by the BPS.
The DTI further noted that the vulnerability of the existing policy lies in the fact that it also provides opportunity to manufacturers with suspended, expired, or cancelled license to continue to operate and produce covered products and use the PS Mark since the same is not traceable once the products are placed in the market.
In the said still unnumbered DAO, it said that the new PS Mark will come in serialized holographic stickers for compliance of all concerned.
Under the procedure, the PS License holder or the authorized local importer of a foreign PS License holder shall submit the duly accomplished Purchase Request form to the BPS or DTI Regional/Provincial Offices together with the summary of the production batch/lot and/or serial numbers of products and the corresponding target manufacturing dates verifiable during surveillance audits duly certified by the manufacturer’s Quality Management Representative or Quality Manager.