Child car seat makers now required to secure gov't certification -DTI

The Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) has included Child Restraint System (CRS) in the list of products for mandatory certification.

The inclusion of CRS is pursuant to Section 6 of Republic Act No. 11229 or the “Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act” and the Department Administrative Order (DAO) 20-03, Series of 2020.

In a statement, the DTI said all manufacturers and importers of CRS are now required to secure a Philippine Standard (PS) license or an Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) certificate prior to marketing, sale, and distribution.

Child Restraint System is a device capable of accommodating a child occupant in a sitting or supine position.

It is also designed to diminish the risk of injury to the wearer, in the event of a collision or of abrupt deceleration of the vehicle, by limiting the mobility of the child’s body.

Early this month, President Rodrigo Duterte deferred the implementation of the RA 11229 or Child Car Seat Law, which mandates the use of restraint systems for children below 12 years old in private motor vehicles,  due to pending guidelines on how to implement it  amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, the DAO 20-03, series of 2020 covers the following types of CRS:

• Lateral-facing (carry-cot) - a restraint system intended to accommodate and restrain the child in a supine or prone position with the child's spine perpendicular to the median longitudinal plane of the vehicle or a CRS facing perpendicular to the normal direction of travel of the vehicle
• Rearward-facing - facing in the direction opposite to the normal direction of travel of the vehicle
• Forward-facing - facing in the normal direction of travel of the vehicle
• Combination (rearward/forward-facing) – a CRS which can be used in either normal or opposite to normal direction of travel of the vehicle.
• Booster cushion/seat - a firm cushion, which can be used in conjunction with an adult seat belt, which pass around the body of the child or restraints the device in which the child is placed, forming a complete CRS

The  DTI said the PS Safety Certification Mark Licensing Scheme shall be available for both local and foreign manufacturers selling or distributing CRS in the Philippine market.

The license to use the PS Certification Mark shall be granted to a company found to be compliant with the requirements of the BPS.

It added that regular surveillance activities shall be conducted including factory and product audits.

The PS license shall be effective from the date of issuance and in full force and effect for a period of three years, subject to annual surveillance audit.

The DTI noted that a PS license can be suspended, withdrawn or cancelled for cause, at any time and after due process.

With the issuance of the DAO 20-03, series of 2020, the required markings and information shall be as follows:

A.  On Child Restraint Systems

• Manufacturer’s name, initials, or trademark
• Year of Production
• Instructions for Correct Installation and Use (appropriate pictograms/symbols, correct webbing path, configuration, etc.)
• Country of Origin
• Serial/Batch Number
• PS License Mark or ICC Sticker

B.  On Packaging

• Trade name or brand name
• Duly registered trademark
• Duly registered business name and address of manufacturer and importer (if imported) or duly registered business name and address of manufacturer (if locally manufactured)

Based on Rule 26 of RA 11229, all brand-new CRS imported in to the Philippines prior to the effectivity of the DAO 20-03, series of 2020, in July last year, and currently in the possession of the importers, distributors, or retailers may be certified by the BPS within 12 months from the effectivity of the order.

“The DTI-BPS aims to ensure that CRS purchased in the market meets the specified safety requirements by requiring all manufacturers and importers to secure the Philippine Standard (PS) Safety Certification Mark License or the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) certificate prior to selling in the market,” DTI-BPS Director Neil Catajay said. -MDM, GMA News