Government steps up campaign vs fake products

MANILA, Philippines - The government is implementing stricter controls to ensure that consumers will not buy fake products.

The Department of Trade and Industry through the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) has signed a memorandum of agreement with the National Printing Office headed by its Director, Servando M. Hizon for the printing of tamper-proof Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) stickers.

The two government units will put in place a more effective control system in the printing of stickers to assure consumers that only certified imported products under the DTI’s mandatory product certification scheme will be allowed in the market.

Director Victorio Mario A. Dimagiba of the BPS said the DTI has improved the security features of the Philippine Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) mark to deter the influx of uncertified imported items that bear a fake ICC seal.

He said the BPS will periodically recommend changes improvements in the ICC mark to make sure unscrupulous traders will not be able to copy them again.

“The department improves the security features of the ICC mark to curb, if not eliminate, the proliferation of uncertified products in the market and, at the same time, to protect consumers from unscrupulous businesses that are imitating the ICC mark so as to increase sales and earn more profits,” Dimagiba said.

The DTI-BPS issues the ICC certificate to importers whose products successfully passed the safety and quality tests based on the safety and quality requirements particularly of the Philippine National Standards (PNS).

ICC holders are then authorized to affix the ICC sticker on their products, which serves as a quality-assurance seal for consumers.

The new ICC sticker includes the ICC logo, and it has security features such as the corresponding ICC number with the serialized numbering system; the month and year of issuance; a textured print of the ICC mark in silver; and a hidden message when the ICC sticker is peeled. According to NPO, these features are printed in a special genuine holographic security film that will help avoid tampering.

DTI regulates critical consumer products that greatly affect life, property and health. In consultation with the various industry sectors and stakeholders, DTI-BPS operates a product certification scheme to assure consumers that critical products sold in the market are safe and reliable.

“The Department will further intensify its monitoring efforts to ensure that all products under mandatory certification will undergo product testing prior to the issuance of ICC certificates, and that no critical product will be distributed in the local market without the ICC sticker,” Dimagiba said.

DTI-BPS requires manufacturers and importers of products under mandatory certification to apply for the PS License or ICC certificate, and have their products inspected and tested based on relevant Philippine National Standard (PNS), prior its sale and distribution in the market.