DTI to amend rules on product certification

MANILA, Philippines–The Department of Trade and Industry wants to revise the rules and regulations of its product certification scheme to streamline procedures so that current practices will be on a par with international standards.

The proposed revisions are expected to ease doing business in the Philippines, improve national competitiveness, and ensure safer products for consumers.

“The revisions to the Bureau of Philippine Standards’ product certification scheme are timely as we align our business and consumer programs to the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (Asean) economic integration. Simultaneously, we were guided with the department’s intent to streamline its policies and procedures to ease doing business in the country,” said Trade Secretary Gregory L. Domingo.

According to the DTI-BPS, the proposed revisions will constitute a new order that will replace the existing Department Administrative Order No. 04 and DAO No. 05. One of the major revisions is the inspection, sampling and testing of an imported regulated product in its country of origin based on the requirements of a relevant PNS (Philippine National Standards).

Under the BPS Product Certification Scheme, manufacturers and importers of certain electrical products, mechanical/building and construction materials and chemical and consumer products, must have their products inspected and evaluated based on specific PNS. Those that comply with the performance and safety requirements of the PNS will be issued the Philippine Standard license or the Import Commodity Clearance certificate, allowing for the distribution and sale of the products.