DTI raids stores selling substandard Christmas lights

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) caught five stores in Divisoria allegedly selling substandard Christmas lights and not following the guidelines on the use of Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) stickers.

During a recent visit at the Tutuban Shopping Mall, the inspection team issued notices of violation to five stores and confiscated their products for further inspection. 

DTI Secretary Gregory Domingo urged the public to buy only Christmas lights certified by the DTI and look for the genuine ICC mark on the product. Domingo warned that the use of substandard Christmas lights poses a danger to the consumers as they may cause fires and electrical shocks.

With fake ICC marks prevailing in the market, Domingo emphasized that genuine ICC marks are not preprinted on the packaging of the product. He said a genuine ICC mark is a foil-like sticker, has the ICC seal with the serial number and the year of certification printed just below it and hologram features that change color.

The ICC marks’ design and features are revised every three years to deter counterfeiters. Consumers were also advised that they should only buy Christmas lights with genuine ICC mark issued on year 2009 onwards. Products with ICC marks issued before 2009 may have deteriorated in quality and are not safe for use.

To guide the public in buying Christmas light, DTI issued posters on the list of Christmas light brands and guidelines in buying Christmas lights and identifying genuine and fake ICC marks. These posters will be put up in retail outlets, hardware stores, department stores, particularly in establishments selling Christmas lights.