Ensuring Quality: Philippine Standards (PS) License and the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) 2 years ago

Something consumers keep in mind upon entering a store to buy a product of their choice, apart from its price, is evidently the quality. This is especially true in regard to equipment one uses in their home, where the safety of all household members must be ensured. And, as an entrepreneur, guaranteeing continuous support for your products equates to your company ensuring the quality you must rightfully deliver. 

Nine types of items are listed under mandatory certification by the Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS). These are:

• Household Appliances

• Consumer Electronics

• Lighting and Wiring Devices

• Steel Products

• Plastic Pipes and Ceramic Products

• Cement and Other Construction Materials

• Chemical Products

• Automotive Related Products

• Miscellaneous Consumer Products

If you found your products included in their in-depth list, go ahead and head down to their testing laboratory. It is high time you acquire the Philippine Standard (PS) Safety Mark and Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) Sticker.

What are the PS Safety Mark and ICC Sticker?

Figure 1. PS Marks

Figure 2. ICC Stickers

PS Safety Marks and ICC Stickers are placed on products that are certifiably safe and of quality by the BPS. They serve as indicators to consumers who wish to stray away from those that are defective, at least, and dangerous, at worst. Any product covered by BPS’s Mandatory Product Certification Schemes that are locally manufactured and imported, then distributed in the Philippine market, must bare these marks.

In accordance with the established rules and policies set by the Department of Trade and Industry, these stickers must be either placed on the product itself or the packaging. However, when applying the stickers on the product is not applicable or might cause damage, they can be placed on the packaging instead.

Figures 3 & 4. Portland cement and blended hydraulic cement with the PS mark.

Figure 5. Halon substitute portable fire extinguishers with the PS mark.

Testing, inspection, and certification of products are handled by BPS or a number of recognized testing laboratories all over the country. While voluntary for those excluded from the list of products under mandatory certification by the BPS, it is mandatory for those included. Failure to comply results in a formal violation, which will be dealt with accordingly.

Applying for PS marks and ICC stickers starts with preparing the necessary requirements prescribed by DTI. The following are for the Philippine Standards mark:

1. Articles of Incorporation or Business Name and Sub-Contracting Agreement, if any

2. Quality Manual (controlled copy)

3. Brief description of the manufacturing process

4. Reference no. of the Product Identification File to include process flow, materials, process control, and drawings, among others

5. Listing of measuring and testing equipment with nominal capacities and serial numbers at each inspection point and final product testing together with the evidence of ownership, such as official receipts

6. Brief description of equipment maintenance and calibration program for all testing and measuring equipment with their corresponding calibration certificates

7. Copies of labels, markings, logos, etc., as per requirements of specific standards

8. Description of the supply distribution chain. Identify the target market if your business is new. Identify the Philippine principal and describe the organizational relationship between the applicant/license holder and the Philippine principal if your company is foreign.

9. Vicinity map of the factory

10. Undertaking to abide by the terms and conditions of the PS License (Annexed to the Application Form)

On the other hand, the following are prescribed for the ICC stickers:

1. Packing List

2. Import Entry (need not be submitted upon filing the application but shall be a requirement for the release of the ICC Certificate)

3. Commercial Invoice

4. Bill of Lading/Airway Bill

5. Summary of Batch Nos./Serial Nos. of Products

6. DTI Business Name Registration (for single proprietor) or SEC Certificate of Incorporation (for corporation)

7. Special Power of Attorney (for single proprietor) or Board/Partners’ Resolution/Notarized Secretary’s Certificate stating the name of authorized company representative (for corporation)

8. Surety Bond

9. BIR Importers Clearance Certificate

10. Current Proof of Billing (Office and Warehouse)

11. ISO 9001 Certificate of the Manufacturer

12. Valid Test Report

13. Other documents

    1. For rerolled steel bars, deformed steel bars, and equal leg angle bars:

       • Submission of a logo to BPS prior to importation

       • Mill Certificate, quality inspection report, or its equivalent from the Manufacturer

    2. For motorcycle helmets and their visors:

       • Test Report per brand per type per model

       • Certificate of Conformity from the Manufacturer that the batch imported conformed to the requirement of the standard prior to release from the Manufacturer’s premises

       • An updated list of distributors/retailers

In preparation for your company’s application, you can also catch up on the most recently updated technical regulations in the Standards and Conformance Portal of DTI’s official website. 

Moreover, you can check Digest.ph for more information regarding upfront pricing, scopes of work, and other legal services.

References:

[1] List of Products Under Mandatory Certification by DTI

[2] PS and ICC Application Requirements by DTI

[3] PS mark and ICC sticker by DTI

[4] Standards for Trade (Philippines) by The International Trade Administration