WITH just 63 days left before Christmas, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) urged the public to only buy certified Christmas lights.
In a statement, DTI Provincial Director Esperanza Melgar urged consumers to keep a close watch on their purchase of decorations that make use of electricity.
“We remind everyone to always look for the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) sticker or the printed Philippine Standard (PS) mark, especially when purchasing and using Christmas lights,” she said.
Products that don’t have these certifications are a threat to a household, especially because they are vulnerable to catch fire.
“Those products that do not have the proper markings and labels do not meet the standards and may pose danger as these may cause fire. They may ask for a copy of the actual certificate to check the veracity of the product’s quality and certification,” she said.
DTI said there are brands that do not bear the PS and ICC marks on them.
It is warning the public that these products are not properly checked by authorities and could cost them their lives and properties.
All certified Christmas lights that are imported come with PS marks or ICC stickers.
PS marks are for foreign manufacturers with PS certification mark licenses, while ICC stickers are issued to importers with approved ICC, which contain security features that can be verified by inspection with a seven-digit alpha-numeric serial number.
As early as September this year, the agency began monitoring retailers throughout Cebu to ensure that the Christmas lights being sold in the market are all PS or ICC- certified.
Safety tips
As an added precaution, DTI encouraged consumers to follow safety instructions such as avoiding outdoor use of Christmas lights designed to be used only indoors, limiting Christmas light attachments, and disconnecting the product from its power source when it is not in use.
The DTI provincial director encouraged the public to report immediately to the DTI–Cebu Office if they find uncertified or substandard products or have been victims of these products. (JOB with PR)