DTI: Look for holographic stickers on boxes of Xmas lights

As the Yuletide draws closer, the Department of Trade and Industry advised buyers of Christmas lights to look for holographic stickers showing they have been certified safe. DTI Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya also cautioned buyers against so-called Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) seals printed only on the packaging. "Babantayan natin ang may Import Commodity Clearance. May iba naglalagay ng stickers, walang security marks. Ang ating bagong sticker inaaral every year para di magaya," she said in an interview on dzBB radio. She said the holograms make the stickers hard to copy. Maglaya advised buyers who suspect the ICC stickers or seals to be fake – especially if they are just printed on the package – to call the DTI hotline at 7513330. The hotline is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 a.m., she said. "If you see dubious ICC seals printed on the packaging, be careful. Sellers are not authorize to print the seals on the packages. Chances are, they are fake and did not undergo inspection," she said. Meanwhile, Maglaya said the Philippine National Police will implement safety standards for fireworks. But she also advised buyers to look for ICC marks on the fireworks they will buy. — LBG, GMA News