P15M in uncertified household appliances seized

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has seized nearly P15 million worth of uncertified household appliances, including electric fans and lamps, during a raid at a warehouse in Biñan, Laguna.

The DTI said their Task Force Kalasag raided the facility last Sept. 17 with the cooperation from the Region IV-A office of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

“This Task Force Kalasag operation underscores our ongoing efforts to combat the dangerous and unfair practices that put consumers at risk,” acting trade secretary Cristina Roque said in a statement.

“The DTI will work relentlessly with other government agencies until every illicit household product is eradicated from our markets,” she added.

Seized during the latest rate were 93,800 units of electric fans with an estimated value of P12,43 million and 104,283 units of self-ballasted LED (light-emitting diode) lamps worth P2.36 million.

According to the DTI, the seized products violated Department Administrative Order No. 02 series of 2007 for lacking the required Philippine Standard markings and import commodity clearance stickers and other product-related information.

It added that product samples from the operation have been forwarded to the DTI’s Bureau of Philippine Standards testing laboratory to assess whether they are safe for use

Further, the DTI said the establishment was issued a preliminary preventive order, restricting the unauthorized removal, tampering, or transfer of the sealed products without a written permission from their Fair Trade and Enforcement Bureau (FTG-FTEB).

The DTI said that their task force has clamped down on almost 700,000 units of substandard products so far this year, preventing the sale of P284 million worth of products of questionable quality.