It’s that time of the year again. The DTI is urging consumers to buy only Christmas lights that have passed safety tests.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) yesterday started monitoring stores selling Christmas lights to make sure the products bear the Import Commodity Compliance (ICC) stickers.
The ICC sticker, which is issued to products that have passed safety tests, is usually found on the wire or on the package containing the lights, the DTI said in its advisory.
Zaide Bation, DTI 7 consumer welfare division chief, said substandard lights are prone to fire.
She said they monitored three stores in Colon yesterday and all have been found compliant.
“All 11 enforcement officers will be fielded at least once a week, with specific areas for monitoring,” she added.
Other labels that consumers should check are the name, address and trademark of the importer or the distributor of the product.
Target completion for monitoring of the Christmas lights is December 15.
Bation urged consumers to consider quality, not just quantity, in buying Christmas lights.
“Buy only Christmas lights with ICC stickers. The public should have safe use — do not cascade more than three sets of lights, and replace busted lamps with the same amperage,” she said.
DTI, through the Bureau of Philippine Standards, issues the warning against unsafe Christmas lights yearly.
Monitoring of noche buena goods will begin on Friday, she said.