Thursday, July 19, 2007 Gov’t, industry conduct campaign against substandard glass plates
THE trade department and industry representatives destroyed yesterday several plates of substandard flat glass that were confiscated from various dealers in Cebu.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Cebu, together with the Philippine Product Safety and Quality Foundation Inc. (PPSQF) and Flat Glass Alliance of the Philippines Inc. (FGAPI), conducted the ceremonial destruction of substandard flat glass to raise awareness among buyers, dealers and manufacturers.
A total of 2,000 square feet of flat glass worth P32,000 were destroyed near the Heritage of Cebu monument in Parian, Cebu City.
“Dealers should not carry in their inventory substandard products,” said FGAPI national corporate secretary Ronilo Matas.
“Manufacturers, dealers and buyers should understand the risks involved when they make, sell or buy substandard products and the value of those within standards.”
First
The smashing of glass plates was the first in Cebu, said FGAPI Cebu chapter president Vicente Chua.
The two dealers of the items which were confiscated by a team of the DTI’s Bureau of Product Standards did not offer resistance and admitted their violation of standards, said Zaide Bation of DTI-Cebu.
According to a statement from FGAPI, the confiscated glass sheets were found being sold without the required import commodity clearance mark. The items also failed to comply with the Philippine National Standards for flat glass (PNS 193, series of 2005).
The concerned stores will face administrative charges for violation of Republic Act 4109, or the Standardization Law, and the DTI administrative order on substandard products.
Victoria Padilla of PPSQF said in an interview that dealers could be fined up to P35,000 for each product specification standard they violate. Manufacturers pay bigger fines, she said.
Authorities could have the shops of frequent violators closed or have their licenses revoked, she added.
No resistance
Bation said store owners in Cebu who violate product standards usually don’t resist authorities and are open to mediation to resolve the cases.
The product standards are imposed on all manufacturers, importers and dealers.
Matas said standards imposed on flat glass include those that involve thickness, appearance of blemishes and distortion.
Non-compliance to standards does not only affect the appearance of the glass but also poses risks on end-users, such as when a glass with a level of distortion is used in vehicle mirrors, said Matas.
But he said that because of limited resources, authorities might not be able to inspect every dealer or manufacturer for substandard glass.
FGAPI’s website (www. fgapi.com) can be a venue to post complaints and reports from consumers, he said. (LAP)
