DTI steps up monitoring of Christmas lights sale
An intensified monitoring of the sale of Christmas lights and similar items relative to the Yuletide season is being conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry in Western Visayas.
DTI 6 Information Officer Ruby Melliza said the intensified monitoring is being spearheaded by their various provincial offices.
To complement the agency’s efforts in ensuring the safety of lives and property this Christmas season, Melliza relayed that DTI 6 Regional Director Dominic Abad is also calling on the public to become vigilant.
In line with this, the public has been urged to always look for the International Commodity Clearance (ICC) mark in imported products and the Product Standards (PS) for locally produced mandatory products.
When buying Christmas lights, consumers are advised to check the following: the diameter of the outside wire must be 1.5 millimeters; the plug must be sturdy; the package must have either the PS or ICC marks and the following must be written on the box to include product name and address of the manufacturer, importer, distributor, brand name, rated voltage and wattage of the lamp, country of origin and bar code, among others.
Melliza added that when decorating with Christmas lights, the connections must not be more than three sets.
The public should not compromise safety in exchange for cheaper decorations, she added.*PNA