P44-M appliances without ICC stickers recovered by DTI in Bulacan
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) personnel on Wednesday, July 31, raided an appliance store in Plaridel, Bulacan after receiving complaints against the establishment for selling appliances without the import commodity clearance (ICC) stickers.
The operation was led by Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) DTI Director Atty. Fhilip D. Sawali and supervising head of the Fair Trade Group, Assistant Secretary Agaton Teodoro O. Uvero.
The value of the uncertified appliances seized by the DTI at the Grand Philippines Smart Appliances Corp. (GPSAC) warehouse was about P44 million, according to DTI Task Force Kalasag.
According to Atty. Sawali, the store was caught after a poseur buyer tried to purchase and found out that the appliances had no ICC sticker.
He said all the appliances were imported from China and Korea based on the packaging.
Uvero said the ICC sticker is important to prove that the product is safe, of good quality, and will not harm the lives of consumers.
He reminded the public to make sure to buy appliances that are certified by the DTI.
According to the store supervisor, they have the ICC stickers but forgot to put them on the products.
The storeowner was given 48 hours to submit a formal explanation to the authorities.
The confiscated appliances were electric fans, television sets, rice cookers, electric multi-cookers, electric kettles, air conditioners, LED Lamps, and extension cords.
Last July 3, 2024, the DTI's Task Force Kalasag also seized 9,428 non-compliant items, mostly household appliances worth P9.3 million during its inspection of two warehouses in Plaridel town.