New rules on the certification of Flat Glass and related products were recently issued by the Department of Trade and Industry to protect consumers from buying fake and poorly manufactured flat glass products used in homes, hotels and buildings. DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez signed Department Administrative Order No. 19-05 on March 28, 2019 providing for new technical regulations for the mandatory certification of glass products.
The new regulation covers Flat Glass, Heat Strengthened and Fully Tempered Flat Glass, Laminated Glass, Laminated Safety Glass in Building and Bent Glass. Under DAO 19-05, locally manufactured and imported flat glass products have to undergo monitoring, inspection and testing before they are certified and sold in the market. With Flat Glass now considered as a mandatory product, it has now to comply with Philippine National Standards.
Under the new rules, flat glass manufacturers have to apply for and secure first a Philippine Standards License before they can produce and distribute their glass products. Manufacturers have to undergo Product and Factory audits to be conducted by the Bureau of Philippine Standards before they are given a Philippine Standards License and Safety Certification Mark.
For imported glass products, importers have to secure a Statement of Confirmation and have the imported products subjected to sampling, testing and Critical Testing 16 working hours upon written notice to the port of entry. Otherwise, full testing of the products will be conducted. Product Testing shall be conducted by a BPS accredited testing laboratory.
For flat glass, product testing include dimensional measuring, testing of distortion, blemish and transmittance. For laminated glass, product testing include impact resistance, high temperature test, humidity test, radiation test, dimension and edge finishing, acoustic property test and appearance.
Under Sections 15 and 18 of the Consumer Act of the Philippines, substandard and uncertified mandatory products like flat glass are prohibited from being distributed, sold and used by consumers. Penalties for the manufacture, distribution and sale of uncertified glass products include fines, confiscation and destruction of the substandard product or exportation to the country of origin.
