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DTI launches improved ICC mark |
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The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through its Bureau of Product Standards (BPS), launches the improved Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) Mark, the quality and safety seal on imported critical consumer products.
 DTI Secretary Peter Favila explains, “With the influx of imported products in the country, which is brought about by the fall of trade barriers among nations worldwide, it is essential for the government to impose stricter guidelines in the printing and issuing of the ICC mark to importers in order to further control the use and ensure security of this quality and safety seals for imported products.”
“The Department improves the security features of the ICC mark to curb, if not eliminate, the proliferation of uncertified products in the market, at the same time to protect the consumers from unscrupulous businesses that are imitating the ICC mark so as to increase sales and earn more profits,” stresses Secretary Favila.
The DTI-BPS operates the Product Certification Scheme to regulate the sale of critical products such as home appliances, electrical and wiring devices, construction materials, and chemical and consumer products to level the playing field of the industry sectors and more importantly to protect the interests of the buying public.
Under the ICC Certification Scheme, all importers of products declared under mandatory certification are required to have their products tested and inspected at the BPS Testing Center or any DTI-accredited testing laboratories, prior their products’ distribution and sale in the Philippine market.
DTI-BPS issues the ICC certificate to those importers whose products successfully passed the safety and quality tests, which are based on the safety and quality requirements of a relevant Philippine National Standard (PNS). ICC holders are then authorized to affix the ICC sticker on their products, which serves as consumers’ guide in choosing quality and reliable products worth the value of their money.
The ICC sticker comes in two parts: the ICC logo, which has the security features and the corresponding ICC number that consists of the ICC certificate number, the month and year of issuance. To prevent unauthorized use, the security features of the mark was improved, which include the textured print of the mark in silver background color with black ICC letters; the hidden message when the ICC mark is peeled; and the gear edges in waved die-cut.
Trade Secretary Favila emphasizes, “The DTI-BPS issues the improved ICC sticker to the importers to control and avoid unlawful use of the mark. Moreover, we shall periodically change the security features of the ICC mark to preserve its integrity.”
“Furthermore, to ensure proper use of these tamper-proof stickers, the Department taps the assistance of the DTI Regional and Provincial Offices (RO/PO), to conduct monitoring activities nationwide so as to verify the compliance of importers with the PNS requirements, and in turn eradicate the proliferation of substandard imported products in the local market.”
The DTI-BPS has prioritized the Christmas lights as the pilot product for the implementation of the improved ICC mark, thus all importers/distributors of Christmas lights issued with the ICC certificate starting October 2008 onwards are required to use the improved ICC stickers.
The Launching Ceremony on the Improved ICC mark was led by DTI Secretary Peter Favila together with Consumer Welfare Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya, which was held on 19 November 2008 at the Board of Investments Audio Visual Room, BOI Bldg., Makati City.
For more information, call DTI-BPS at 751-4740, send your email message through
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or visit www.bps.dti.gov.ph. bps
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