By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Uncertified consumer products pose an imminent threat to the safety and well-being of those who end up utilizing such goods for either personal or commercial purposes, which may end up undermining public trust in the institutions that certify products sold in the domestic market.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is well aware of the proliferation of violative goods in the market and has sent a strong warning to illegitimate businesses by facilitating the ceremonial destruction of illicit lead-acid storage batteries at a waste disposal facility in Valenzuela City on June 13.
A total of 21,403 batteries, amounting to P110.7 million, were formally ordered for disposal by the DTI’s Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) for lacking mandatory Philippine Standard (PS) marks and Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) stickers—certification labels that guarantee product quality and consumer safety.
This action was carried out in accordance with Republic Act No. 4109, or the Product Standards Law. Most of the destroyed items were confiscated during a joint enforcement operation with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in September 2024, which also led to the closure of the offending warehouse.
Fair Trade Group (FTG) Supervising Head Assistant Secretary Agaton Uvero of the destruction of violative batteries said that, “These products undergo mandatory certification for a reason—they are inherently hazardous. Through this ceremonial destruction, we are not only removing uncertified products from the market to ensure consumer safety but also guaranteeing that the disposal of these items is conducted properly, in an environmentally responsible manner.”
Likewise, FTEB Director Regino Mallari declared the event’s significance as a showcase of the government’s unwavering stance against establishments who do not comply with product certification requirements.
Director Mallari declared, “This event demonstrates our commitment to supporting legitimate businesses and maintaining a fair market. It reinforces the importance of accountability in following our product standardization and testing procedures.”
The disposal procedure underscored the importance of properly handling toxic materials while maximizing the recovery of reusable and recyclable components.
Environmental experts from Trame Oil & Environmental Specialist Inc., along with trained waste workers from Quezon City Public Employment Service Office (QC-PESO), partook in the destruction of unsafe automotive batteries.
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