DTI seeks inputs for supplemental rules in flat glass certification

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is seeking inputs from importers and manufacturers for the proposed supplemental guidelines on the mandatory certification of flat glass.

In a notice, the DTI’s Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) said it is requesting comments from manufacturers and imports of flat glass, heat-strengthened and fully tempered flat glass, laminated glass and laminated safety glass in building, and bent glass for draft supplemental guidelines to be issued for technical regulations covering mandatory certification of such products.

“The DTI-BPS will accept comments and/or position papers from all stakeholders on the draft MC (memorandum circular) until Dec. 6, 2019,” the agency said.

DTI came up with draft supplemental guidelines amid concerns raised by various stakeholders on Department Administrative Order (DAO) 19-05 issued last March,which provided regulations for mandatory certification of both imported and locally manufactured flat glass products.

The DAO was issued to ensure only safe and quality flat glass products are made available in the market.

Implementation of DAO 19-05 has been suspended however, following court orders obtained by importers from courts in Makati City and Pasay City.

Under the DTI’s draft supplemental guidelines, all imports of heat-strengthened and fully tempered, laminated safety and bent glass products made by duly registered Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) to be used specifically for construction or development projects would be exempted from the conduct of third party critical testing requirements upon arrival at the port of entry subject to certain conditions.

These conditions include submission of PCAB license; inspection and verification to be conducted on site upon release from the Bureau of Customs; conduct of fragmentation test on tempered glass; submission of undertaking to abide by the DTI order in case fragmentation tests show non-conforming results; and submission of bill of materials and bill of quantity certified by the project owner or his duly authorized representative.

The draft supplemental guidelines also provide that all imports of flat glass made by a foreign manufacturer with a valid Philippine Standard (PS) license would be exempted from mandatory sampling and testing based on specific conditions.

In particular, the exemption would apply if the glass processor has PS license and the import is intended solely as raw material for the manufacture of processed glass or the glass processor has an ongoing application for PS license and the import is to be used for initial production for purposes of preparation for conduct of factory audit.