Monday, March 10, 2008 Translation of product info in English, Filipino urged
KORONADAL CITY -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has vowed to go after manufacturers in Central Mindanao who won't translate product information in Filipino or the English language.
This after the DTI main office issued recently a policy directive mandating the translation of production information on locally made and imported goods.
"It is now mandatory that the information in the label or packaging of goods, whether imported or locally-made, shall be translated in English or Filipino language," Ibrahim Guiamadel, DTI-Central Mindanao director, said in a press statement.
Guimadel stressed that their main office has issued Department Administrative Order No. 1, Series of 2008, which became effective last February 12 after it was published in national newspapers.
But Vic Dimagiba, director of the Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection, said the department administrative order provides a transitory period of six months, after which all manufacturers, distributors, importers or re-packers of consumer products shall comply.
Guimadel stressed the nation has a law that seeks to protect consumers, citing Republic Act 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines.
The Act said the state shall enforce compulsory labeling, and fair packaging to enable the consumer obtain accurate information as to the nature, quality and quantity of the contents of consumer products and to facilitate his comparison of the value of such products.
Guimadel said DTI, however, saw the need to update and tighten existing rules, thus the issuance of the department administrative order, on product labeling, proper and correct description of goods, product labels with foreign characters/languages, data/information on product contents and origins and other similar purposes.
The new department administrative order essentially provides that it shall be mandatory for all manufacturers, distributors, importers or re-packers of all consumer products covered, whether manufactured or imported, to indicate in their labels or packaging, a parallel translation in the English or Filipino language of the nature, quality and quantity and other relevant information or instructions of such consumer products in a manner that cannot be easily removed, detached or erased under ordinary handling thereof.
Section 3 of department administrative order also requires all consumer products to indicate and specify information on country of manufacture, consumption duration safety, warranty of the manufacturer, weight content prior to packaging, consumer complaint desk address, and other information that fits the parameter of the consumers' right to information.
Guiamadel said violators of the new department administrative order shall be dealt with in accordance with the Consumer Act of the Philippines and its Implementing Rules and Regulations. (BSS)
