DTI strengthens safety, quality standards for school supplies

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is reinforcing safety and quality standards for school and office supplies used daily by millions of Filipino students, teachers, and workers through the Philippine National Standards (PNS).

Under the system, each product is governed by a specific technical standard that sets minimum requirements on safety, durability, performance, labeling, and quality to ensure suitability for consumer use.

DTI Bureau of Philippine Standards Assistant Division Chief Myra Magabilin said the standards are designed to ensure that commonly used school and office items are safe, reliable, and fit for everyday use.

“These standards help ensure that the products we use every day in schools, offices, and homes are safe, durable, reliable, and suitable for consumers and users,” Magabilin said during the Consumer Care Webinar Series #312.

She also clarified that products do not automatically fall under mandatory regulation.

“Before a product is declared mandatory, there are procedures and processes. The regulatory body has to conduct studies, including risk and impact assessments, to determine whether a product should be regulated,” she said.

The standards cover a wide range of school and office supplies, including:

Writing instruments

• Black lead pencils (PNS 1870)
• Colored pencils (PNS 1871)
• Ballpoint pens (PNS 1882)
• Ballpoint pen refills (PNS 1883)
• Mechanical pencils (PNS 1878)
• Marking pens (PNS 1895)
• Fluorescent markers (PNS 1896)
• Whiteboard markers (PNS 1894)

Paper products

• Bond paper (PNS 1987)
• Multipurpose copy paper (PNS 1988)
• Colored ruled paper (PNS 1984)
• Grade school pads (PNS 1985)
• Notebooks (PNS 1986)

Art and coloring materials

• Crayons (PNS 1872)
• Watercolor paints (PNS 1881)
• Writing chalk (PNS 1873)

Correction materials

• Correction fluid (PNS 1884)
• Correction tape (PNS 1885)

Adhesives and tapes

• Glue (PNS 1876)
• Masking tape (PNS 1886)
• Adhesive tape (PNS 1887)

Fastening and office tools

• Paper fasteners (PNS 1877)
• Paper clips (PNS 1891)
• Staplers (PNS 1889)
• Paper punchers (PNS 1879)

Cutting and sharpening tools

• Scissors (PNS 1890)
• Pencil sharpeners (PNS 1880)

Measuring tools

• Rulers (PNS 1888)

Officials said the standards also include safety restrictions on potentially harmful substances. Items such as crayons, watercolor paints, chalk, and erasers are subject to limits on lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and chromium content, while markers must comply with chemical safety requirements, including limits on formaldehyde.

Adhesives such as glue are likewise required to meet non-toxicity and quality standards.

The DTI said the PNS framework functions as a baseline for ensuring product safety and quality rather than a “rating system,” with each standard serving as a technical blueprint for specific products.

Products that comply with PNS requirements are deemed safer, more durable, and more reliable, while non-compliant items may be flagged as substandard or unsafe.

As the back-to-school season approaches, the DTI urged consumers to read labels carefully, follow product instructions, and purchase supplies from reputable brands, while paying attention to safety warnings and handling information on packaging.—MCG, GMA News