The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is urging online platforms to ramp up monitoring of substandard and illegal products as part of a broader initiative to strengthen consumer protection measures amid continued e-commerce growth.

In a statement, the DTI said it is seriously concerned about the proliferation of illicit, uncertified, and unlicensed products on major e-commerce platforms and even illegal online gambling sites.

“In this regard, the DTI calls on e-commerce platforms to strengthen their due diligence mechanisms,” it said.

The DTI emphasized that online platforms should “rigorously verify” merchants and the products listed on their systems to determine whether they are legitimate, licensed, and compliant.

Platforms are responsible for proactively addressing listings that may violate safety regulations and consumer protection measures.

Should they fail to comply with this mandate, the DTI recalled that it filed formal charges against major e-commerce platforms last year following monitoring that revealed persistent non-compliant listings.

“This action underscores the active oversight of the department on the digital marketplace and sends a clear signal that platforms must operate with integrity and comply with laws designed to protect Filipino consumers,” it said.

This call to online platforms comes amid a surge in e-commerce, as more Filipinos turn to digital marketplaces rather than traditional brick-and-mortar stores for everyday purchases.

“As online transactions expand, the department remains committed in ensuring that the convenience of e-commerce is matched by strong consumer protection measures,” the DTI said.

The agency asserted that the digital marketplace must operate as a safe and trusted environment that strictly adheres to applicable regulations, product standards, and certification requirements.

To this end, it said that it has active collaborations with e-commerce platforms to ensure compliance with the Internet Transactions Act (ITA) and other relevant trade laws.

Signed in 2023, the ITA seeks to foster a robust e-commerce environment by building trust between online merchants and consumers through regulations that make the online shopping experience more secure.

The law established the e-commerce trustmark, a digital badge for online platforms or merchants that comply with fair e-commerce practices.

The DTI encourages consumers to patronize sellers with the trustmark to ensure that the products they will purchase uphold high standards of trustworthiness and safety.

“By supporting certified merchants and responsible platforms, consumers also play an important role in strengthening the digital marketplace and protecting Filipino households from the risks posed by substandard and non-compliant goods,” it said.