DTI orders destruction of P737 K worth of substandard wires, cables

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has ordered the destruction of P737,000 worth of substandard thermoplastic insulated wires and cables to prevent their sale and distribution in the local market, as part of its efforts to ensure consumer safety.

In a statement, the DTI said the substandard products were found non-conforming to the elongation and flame retardance requirements of Philippine National Standard (PNS) 35-1:2004 (Electric wires and cables – Thermoplastic-insulated copper wires and cables rated 600 volts – Part 1: General specifications) as confirmed by the third-party testing.

The elongation is the measure of the length that a wire may be stretched to before breaking, while flame retardance is a wire’s capacity to prevent a flame from spreading once it catches fire.

DTI-BPS said it witnessed the destruction of the 301 cartons of two square millimeters (sqmm) and 3.50 sqmm THHN/THWN-2; and 1,165 meters of 60.00 sqmm THHN/THWN-2 substandard wires and cables at the manufacturer’s warehouse in Marikina City on Jan. 18 and Feb.9.

“The 2.00 sqmm and 3.50 sqmm THHN/THWN-2 wires and cables were cut on the top, middle, and lower portions of the rolls while the 60 sqmm THHN/THWN-2 wires and cables were peeled and the bare copper were cut to noncommercial size by the manufacturer’s authorized representatives prior to disposal,”the DTI-BPS said.

The DTI-BPS implements two mandatory product certification schemes: the Philippine Standard (PS) Quality and/or Safety Certification Mark Licensing Scheme and the import commodity clearance (ICC) certification scheme.

Products covered by the mandatory certification, whether locally manufactured or imported, are not allowed to be distributed in the Philippine market without the necessary PS or ICC marks.

Currently, there are 111 products and systems covered under the BPS’ mandatory product certification schemes which are classified into three major product groups, namely, electrical and electronic products, mechanical/building and construction materials, and chemical & other consumer products and systems.

The DTI-BPS implements the certification schemes to protect consumers or potential buyers of electrical and electronic products; mechanical or building and construction materials; and chemical and other consumer products and systems.

Earlier this week, the BPS reported that P740,000 worth of substandard steel were destroyed in Valenzuela City to prevent its sale and distribution.

The DTI-BPS said it witnessed the destruction of 600 pieces of substandard equal-leg steel angle bars at the manufacturer’s warehouse in Valenzuela City last month.

“The substandard products were cut using an oxy-acetylene torch prior to transfer to the manufacturer’s smelting facility,”the DTI-BPS said.

It said the substandard steel products were found non-conforming to the elongation requirement of Philippine National Standard (PNS) 657:2008 (Hot-Rolled Steel Sections – Equal-Leg Angles – Specifications) as confirmed by third-party testing.