Nationwide crackdown intensifies during holiday shopping season to protect consumers from hazardous goods.
In a major enforcement action ahead of the holiday rush, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) confiscated an estimated ₱25.3 million worth of uncertified and potentially hazardous household appliances in Malabon City on December 15. The operation is part of a intensified nationwide campaign to ensure product safety during peak shopping periods.
A total of 14,704 individual items were seized, targeting high-demand holiday products such as electric rice cookers, fans, ovens, juicers, and kettles. The DTI confirmed that all seized products lacked the mandatory government-issued Philippine Standard (PS) marks or Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) stickers, and failed to display proper manufacturer labeling, violating Republic Act No. 4109 or the Philippine Standard (PS) Quality and Safety Marks Act.
The raid was triggered by a DTI online test-buy that initially flagged the products as non-compliant. A follow-up onsite inspection verified the violations, leading to the immediate issuance of a Notice of Violation to the involved establishment for breaching product safety regulations.
DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque stated the operation underscores the government’s commitment to consumer protection. “The holiday season is a time when families make purchases for their homes and buy gifts for loved ones. They deserve the peace of mind that comes with safe and reliable products,” Roque said, aligning the crackdown with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to safeguard consumers. She warned that the DTI is ramping up inspections nationwide to hold sellers accountable.
This operation in Malabon is a key initiative under the DTI’s E-Kalasag program, launched in April 2024, which strengthens market surveillance and enforces technical regulations across the country to prevent substandard and unsafe goods from reaching the public.#
