Beware of substandard Christmas lights : DTI

VICTORIA, Laguna -- For a merrier Christmas celebration and joyous holiday revelry, a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial official here has cautioned buyers and consumers to be discerning in their choice of products and not to patronize substandard or low-quality products especially in their early Christmas shopping for the holiday season.

DTI-Laguna Provincial Director Susan R. Palo advised buyers and shoppers on Friday to check if the products or items such as the much sought-after Christmas lights or decorative materials bear the Philippine Standard (PS) sticker or Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) marking.

Palo said the PS and ICC stickers are validating seals to ensure product quality and authenticity as guides for buyers when purchasing especially for home appliances, electronic and electrical items.

The warning stemmed from reports on the peddling of Christmas lights that are substandard and may pose danger to the buyers’ health and safety.

Some Christmas lights and decorative lights were reported to have caused fire, explosion, electrical overload and electrocution.

Palo also reminded the consumers to check if the Christmas lights are designed for outdoor or indoor use.

She pointed out that under the Consumer Act of the Philippines or Republic Act No. 7394, all stores and selling outlets could only sell products that are certified to or confirmed to have complied with the DTI’s Bureau of Products Standard.

She said that DTI provincial office will inspect stores and outlets and owners of establishments found to be selling substandard products will be penalized with a fine of PHP25,000 up to PHP300,000 depending on the extent of the violation.
The DTI provincial director also reminded the consumers and buyers to think first of their safety and security and that of their families to ensure an accident-free Yuletide celebration. (Ruben E. Taningco/PNA)