The Department of Trade and Industry – Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (DTI-FTEB), assisted by DTI – Cordillera Regional and Provincial personnel, conducted a three-day enforcement sortie in Baguio City, Benguet and Ifugao from April 3 to 5, 2019. Three teams from the FTEB were joined by personnel from the DTI-CAR Consumer Protection Divisions of the said provinces, visiting a total of 29 firms, mostly selling products covered by mandatory certification.
According to the composite team, sixteen (16) of the firms were found to have violated trade and industry laws, specifically the Philippine Standards Law (Republic Act 4109) and its implementing rules and regulations, Department Administrative Order No. 2, series of 2007 (DAO2:2007). All firms found to have violated trade laws were issued a Notice of Violation, which requires them to appear before the FTEB within 48 hours, with documents to prove that the products they were selling were compliant with the Standards Laws’ requirements. The head of the FTEB enforcement team stated that most of the violations involved the selling of steel bars and angle bars, while several were cited for other product-related violations. The team reported that at least two repair shops were issued notices for failing to obtain accreditation certificates from the agency. Put together, all products that were sealed and prohibited for sale had a market value of almost P3.1 Million. DTI-FTEB will conduct all administrative proceedings arising out of the enforcement. Retailers can expect to pay fines starting at P25,000.00 for each violation committed.
DTI conducts enforcement activities to ensure that only products that have passed the product certification requirements are available in the market. Apart from looking for the requisite markings, the agency’s representatives conducted weighing, length and diameter measurements to establish prima facie evidence of violations. It also commits to provide consumers with information relative to products that are covered by mandatory Philippine National Standards./DTI-CAR/Art Tibaldo