EDITORIAL - Product alert

After the days dedicated to the dead, preparations for Christmas are in full swing, with Yuletide décor replacing Halloween masks. Every year, new types of Christmas lights and toys are offered by retailers, and this year has been no different.

The proliferation of Christmas décor has prompted authorities to warn consumers about poor quality lights that could trigger fires. The cheap lights typically have thin wires that are prone to short-circuiting, authorities say. The warning cannot be taken lightly. Defective Christmas lights have triggered deadly fires in the past years. In December 2004, lights adorning the Christmas tree at the Makati home of Jose de Venecia Jr., at the time the House speaker, and his wife Gina engulfed the second floor, killing their teenage daughter.

Authorities are advising the public to have Christmas lights, whether used or brand new, tested before these are draped on trees and around the house. The testing is needed particularly when several lengths are being strung together and plugged into only one electrical socket. Some consumers are unaware that certain lights are only for indoor use.

Toys, whether cheap or expensive, can also contain substances that are toxic to children. In recent years, scandals have rocked even major toy manufacturers over toxic levels of substances used in their products. Monitoring the presence of toxic elements can be particularly difficult when it comes to the many cheap toys that flood bargain bazaars. Authorities are advising consumers to look for products that are labeled non-toxic.

To promote the use of safe products, Christmas lights and toys are inspected for safety by the Bureau of Product Standards. The Department of Trade and Industry said lights whose Import Commodity Clearance is earlier than 2006 must be presented by retailers for re-inspection. The best products are those whose ICC is no earlier than 2009.

Everyone wants value for money, and a bargain can be irresistible. But consumers must make sure they are not risking their own safety for what seems to be a good bargain.