DTI warns public vs mislabeled school supplies, unsafe products
MALAYBALAY CITY | BUKIDNON NEWS – As consumers bargain for school supplies for the coming school year, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) urged millions of parents and students to be watchful and be meticulous of mislabeled school materials to assure quality, safe use and to get the best value for their money.
Trade Secretary Jesli Lapus in a statement warns consumers not to rush into buying fake or imitation products that are cheap.
“Parents and students must also check for labels such as the brand or trade mark, name and address of manufacturer, country of manufacture, net quantity and toxicity warning, if applicable,” Lapus said.
For his part, DTI Bukidnon Provincial Director Ermedio Abang in an interview stressed that under the Consumer Act of the Philippines, the manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers are liable to consumers for injuries caused by defective and unsafe products as well as for the insufficient or inadequate information on the use of certain products and the hazards they pose.
“Those found not conforming to the minimum labeling requirements face administrative charges which include a maximum fine of P300,000 per violation,” Abang said. (Ruby Leonora Balistoy / PIA Bukidnon)
