Lapid bats for establishment of Product Safety Online Information Center

Sen. Manuel “Lito” Lapid (Screen grab / Senate PRIB file photo)

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Lito Lapid is pushing for the establishment of a government-maintained website that shall contain recalls, prohibitions, bans, defects, and other relevant safety information on consumer products, including motor vehicles.

Under Senate Bill No. 2144, Lapid seeks to establish a Product Safety Online Information Center accessible to the public in a move to strengthen the information dissemination and consumer education of regulatory bodies and agencies.

“Karapatan ng bawat consumer sa ating bansa na maprotektahan sila mula sa mga produkto na hindi maayos ang pagkakagawa o kaya naman ay naglalaman ng mga delikado o hazardous components,” Lapid said in a statement.

(It is the right of consumers to be protected from defective or hazardous products and product components.)

“Mapapaigting ang proteksyong ito para sa mga consumer kung mabibigyan sila ng iba’t-ibang ahensya ng gobyerno ng kumpletong impormasyon kaugnay sa product safety lalo na kung ang nasabing produkto ay nirecall, pinagbabawal o napatunayang sira at hindi ligtas gamitin,” he added.

(They will get more protection if they receive pertinent information fro concerned government agencies , especially products that are recalled, banned or deemed unsafe to use or defective.)

Some features of the website, according to the proposed measure, are as follows:

• Searchable list of all valid and existing product recalls, prohibitions, bans, defect notices, and other relevant safety information;
• Alerts on latest recalls, prohibitions, bans, defect notices and other safety announcements;
• Simple, plain-language explainers of recalls, prohibitions, bans, defect notices, and other safety announcements in English, Filipino, and other local language or dialects as may be necessary;
• A platform for reports and complaints on possible safety issues and information on how to spot and detect unsafe or defective products through labels, identification numbers, batch and lot numbers, vehicle identification numbers (VIN);
• Information on how to reach and contact manufacturers, retailers, distributors, and other related businesses connected with recalled, prohibited, banned, or defective products;
• Integration with existing consumer complaint and grievance procedures of the implementing government agencies;
• Other feature and information as the implementing government agencies may deem necessary in order to foster convenience, quick access, and a user-friendly and practical interface

The management and maintenance of the online information center will be a multi-agency effort involving the Department of Health (DOH) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with respect to food, drugs, cosmetics, devices, and substances; the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) for products related to agriculture, including fertilizers and pesticides; the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for information with respect to motor vehicles and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for other consumer products.

(REUTERS/File Photo)

“Sa pamamagitan ng isinusulong nating Product Safety Online Information Center, hindi na kailangan pang magpakahirap ng mga consumer na hanapin ang mga impormasyong kaugnay sa iba’t-ibang produkto sa pamamagitan ng pagtingin sa mga website ng iba’t-ibang ahensya ng gobyerno, kasama na rin ang mga website ng mga manufacturers, retailers at distributors,” Lapid said.

(Through the proposed Product Safety Online Information Center, consumers will no longer have a hard time searching for information from different websites.)

“Mahalagang may iisang website na maglalaman ng mga impormasyong magbibigay ng warning kung delikado ba o hindi na dapat gamitin pa ang isang produkto,” he added.

(It is important to have a single website containing information on product safety.)

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