A lawmaker from the Philippines asserted that online selling platforms Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok are not complying with local laws by selling small appliances that lack Product Standard (PS) stickers.
House Deputy Majority Leader and ACT-CIS partylist Rep. Erwin Tulfo, in a congressional investigation conducted by the House Committee on Trade and Industry, said: “PS stickers are important because that’s where you know the product you bought at DTI has been tested and is safe to use.”
Tulfo was referring to the Philippines’ Department of Trade and Industry which has safeguarding policies on consumer items.
Tulfo, in a news report, also said: “These items are cheap because apart from the fact that they come from China, they are not sure the quality. In short…fake.”
The congressional investigation stemmed from a complaint filed by the Small Appliance Manufacturers of the Philippines, led by its president Carol Yao, regarding the rampant sale of counterfeit and unsafe small appliances from China, the report from the local newspaper Manila Standard said.
The group called for fair competition for Filipino manufacturers and the 300,000 employees they represent against the unfair online selling of foreign products by the three online platforms.
Biron said she is supporting the complaint of the small appliance manufacturers, emphasizing that these companies must comply with Philippine laws.
“We want to ensure that every Filipino business competes on a level playing field. Let
us fight for fairness, for justice, and for the future of our industries and our people,” Biron stated.
It was revealed during the hearing that products sold to local consumers through
online platforms are also not being taxed, in line with the newly enacted Republic Act (RA) 11967.
RA 11967, the “Internet Transaction Act,” was signed into law by President Marcos in December 2023.
According to Tulfo, this law is designed “to protect online consumers and merchants by establishing a regulatory framework for e-commerce players to adhere to specific rules and regulations on promoting competition and innovation, ensuring environmental sustainability, and safeguarding electronic transactions
between sellers and buyers.”
The lawmaker noted that this group of local small appliance manufacturers represents not only businesses but also communities, as it provides jobs to over 300,000 Filipino workers.
Tulfo stated that the House investigation should aim to determine what measures the
DTI is implementing to regulate the sale of imported appliances on e-commerce platforms, as well as how the DTI monitors the compliance of online products with importation and safety standards.
Shopee, as well as the other online platforms, in their respective corporate website, said they do not permit the selling of counterfeit and/or dangerous consumer items.
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