DTI: PHL adopted 417 new standards for products in 2013

The Philippines adopted 417 new standards for products and services in 2013, the Department of Trade and Industry said over the weekend.

With the 417 new standards, the country now has 8,663 Philippine national standards (PNS), the DTI's Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) said.

"In its continued standardization activities with other government offices, industries, test institutions, and, consumer organizations, the DTI-BPS has developed and adopted 417 PNS for the year 2013. To date, there are 8,663 ready PNS at the BPS Standards Data Center and 79.54% or 6,891 of these have been aligned to the international standards of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and the Codex Alementarius (Codex)," said DTI-BPS Officer-in-Charge Engr. Gerardo Maglalang.

Also, Maglalang said the BPS presently administers 28 technical committees to develop or adopt Philippine National Standards in cooperation with other government offices and the academe, industries, and consumers.

According to the DTI, a PNS provides rules, guidelines or characteristics for activities or their results of a product or service "for common and repeated use."

It thus makes the development, manufacturing and supply of products and services more efficient, safer and cleaner.

PNS also facilitates trade between countries and provides government with a technical base for health, safety and environmental legislation and conformity assessment.

"In addition it shares technological advances and good management practice, disseminate innovation, safeguard consumers and users in general, of products and services plus, it makes life simpler by providing solutions to common problems," the DTI said.

“These PNS make enormous and positive contributions to the many aspects of our lives. They ensure desirable characteristics – such as performance, environmental friendliness, safety, reliability, efficiency and interchangeability – of products and services that we consume daily,” Maglalang added.

A PNS is established by consensus through technical committees and approved by the DTI-Bureau of Product Standards.

All PNS undergo deliberations including a circulation to all sectors concerned for their technical views and comments.

Before approval, a PNS is also circulated among the 159 member-countries of the World Trade Organization (WTO) for transparency, especially for PNS that are "used as references for technical regulations that are bases for mandatory conformity assessment procedures."

By quarter

In the first quarter of 2013, the BPS developed or adopted 21 PNS on food; audio, video and related equipment; glass and glass products; electromagnetic compatibility; and, gas cylinders.

In the second quarter, it readied 109 PNS on household appliances; audio video; lamp and related equipment; medical electrical equipment; adhesives; plastics; refractories; electronics; mining and minerals; road vehicles engineering; construction materials and building; and, health care technology.

By the third quarter, it developed or adopted 26 more BPS, for non-textile floor coverings; textile; footwear; rubber; foot wear; transportation of petroleum products; and road vehicles.

In the fourth quarter, it developed or adopted 261 PNS on electrical products, rubber products, footwear, textiles, assistive products for PWDs, adhesive, nanotechnology, recreational diving devices, geometrical product certification, ceramic tile, plastic, semiconductor devices, surface chemical analysis, tobacco, copper alloys, glass and glass products, and food. — LBG, GMA News