SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – Around 500 boxes of alleged imported Christmas lights with fake seals of International Commodity Clearance (ICC) were confiscated by personnel of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) from various establishments here yesterday.
Zaldy Zafra, officer of DTI-La Union Consumer Protection Division, said that most of the fake ICC seals, worth around P2.00 each, were bought in Manila by local businessmen..
“We have seen that all the products (Christmas lights) confiscated were fake because these should have been inspected and certified by the Bureau of Product Standards before they were given ICCs. The vendors claimed they bought it Manila with their supplier,” Zafra said.
Zafra said they found that the ICCs were fake because their serial numbers contain eight numbers instead of seven and the genuine should be hologram with different shining colours and not just plain silver.
“All the confiscated products will be destroyed because they are dangerous and might cause fire, particularly in the home,” Zafra said.
Zafra advised those who wants to engage business in Christmas lights to coordinate with DTI so they can be enlighten on the proper procedure.
“I told them (vendors) to form their group so we can conduct briefing for the proper purchase of their products to avoid them being victimized by unscrupulous traders who sell fake Christmas lights,” he said.
He also called on those who bought fake products to destroy or return them to their supplier. It was not known whether buyers could get reimbursements for the fake products. Jun Elias/Northboundasia.com