THIS week in China, it was reported that at least six babies have died and over 12,000 children got sick after they were fed with infant formulas tainted with melamine, a compound used in plastics and fertilizers and is banned from food products. More than 80 percent of the sick were toddlers under two.

The news prompted the Philippine government to immediately act by closely monitoring the entry of milk products from China; conduct of random testing of milk products across the country; and directing all licensed importers and/or distributors of registered milk products sourced from China to immediately stop from further importing, distributing, selling and offering for sale of said products until further notice from the Bureau of Food and Drugs.  

Furthermore, to guide Filipino consumers in their purchases, the government reminds them to be more discerning by thoroughly reading the labels of products that they are buying.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) advises consumers to carefully inspect milk products they would purchase.

The agency advises the public to refrain from buying milk brands they are not familiar with, especially those without labels in the packaging and are being sold by street vendors.

The DTI has also called on retailers to assure public that they do not have such milk products and voluntarily recall brands that are found to contain substances that are hazardous to health.

But what are labels and why are they important?

A  label  is either a piece of paper, polymer, cloth, metal, or other material affixed to a container or article on which product identification, name tags, ingredient, advertising, warnings and other communication are printed. 

Labels, aside from enabling consumers to compare similar goods in the market and weigh up which will meet their needs and preference, also serves as a way to protect them from potential dangers caused by certain goods.

The Consumer Act of the Philippines (Republic Act 7394) states: “It shall be the duty of the State to protect consumers against hazards to health and safety.”

As a state policy, the government is enforcing compulsory labeling to enable consumers to get accurate information as to the nature, quality and quantity of the contents of consumer products.

Minimum labeling requirements have been imposed for businesses to comply with, such as registered trade or brand name, the business name and address of the manufacturer or importer, the general make or active ingredients, the net quantity of contents, and the country of manufacture.

Additional labeling requirements for food products have also been imposed to protect consumers further: “Food products must indicate the expiration date, whether the product is semi or fully processed, ready to cook or ready to eat, the nutritive value, and whether the ingredients used are natural or synthetic.”

Moreover, because of the need to update and tighten existing rules on product labeling; proper and correct description of goods; and product labels with foreign characters/ languages, data, information on product contents, the DTI has revised some of the existing provisions of the Consumer Act on labeling and packaging requirements through Department Administrative Order  01, Series of 2008 (DAO 01, s. 2008). 

With the subject “Addenda to the Implementing  Rules  and Regulations of Republic  Act  7394, otherwise known as the Consumer Act of the Philippines or the Department Administrative Order  2, Series of 1993 on the Matter of Chapter IV on Labeling and Fair Packing,” the administrative order applies to all consumer products whether locally manufactured or imported.  

Section 2, or the “Mandatory Translation in English or Filipino Language in the Label” of DAO 01, s. 2008, states that it shall be mandatory for all manufacturers, distributors, importers or repackers of consumer products to indicate in their labels or packaging a parallel translation in the English or Pilipino language of the nature, quality and quantity and other relevant information or instructions of such consumer products in a manner that cannot be easily removed, detached or erased under ordinary handling.

It also requires all consumer products sold in the Philippines, whether locally manufactured or imported, to indicate and specify the following:

a)            country of manufacture;

b)            required information of consumption duration safety (i.e., good until December 2008);

c)             warranty of the manufacturer;

d)            weight content prior to packa-ging;

e)            consumer complaint desk address; and

f)              all other information that fits the parameter of the consumers’ right to information.

The DTI has established quality and safety standards on products to safeguard consumers.  The standards provide requirements as to the packaging and labeling itself, the use of precautions in storage or transportation, and use of markings such as safety warnings or instructions.

It also closely coordinates with the departments of Health and Agriculture and the Bureau of Customs to ensure that all local and imported consumer products comply with the provisions of the Consumer Act and its Implementing Rules and Regulations governing product labeling and fair packaging.

Labeling is indispensable to consumers in the exercise of their right to information and choice, and to businesses in enabling them to cater to their market’s needs and to promote their products well. But labeling has a far more important function than merely contributing to sales; it is a double-edged sword with the equal ability to misinform as much as it can provide the right information.

That is why businesses and the government have a big responsibility in making sure that consumers are not only given honest information about a consumer product, but that the information does not mislead them in any way. 

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Send your feedback and queries to konsyumeratbp@gmail.com. For in-depth information on consumer issues, listen to Konsyumer Atbp. every Saturday, 10:00-11:30 a.m. over  dzMM 630kHz. For consumer complaints, call the DTI Consumer Assistance Hotline 751-3330 or Text DTI<space>complaint and send to 2920 for Globe and Smart subscribers.

The Business of Consumers: Consumers urged to read thoroughly product labels

THIS week in China, it was reported that at least six babies have died and over 12,000 children got sick after they were fed with infant formulas tainted with melamine, a compound used in plastics and fertilizers and is banned from food products. More than 80 percent of the sick were toddlers under two.

The Business of Consumers: Practice smart shopping to get value for your hard-earned money

LATEST statistics released by the National Statistical Coordination Board indicates that approximately 24 out of 100 Filipino families did not earn enough to satisfy their basic food and nonfood requirements.

The Business of Consumers: Raising the bar of consumer welfare

BOUGHT a defective product? No fear, a “good” store will replace the commodity with a new working product. Replacing a defective product sometimes serves as a test by the consumer if the establishment is worth coming back to.  A store that cares for its clients usually has a high chance of succeeding because it attracts a wide and loyal consumer base. 

The Business of Consumers: Protecting welfare of consumers is a vital component of civil service

CIVIL servants belong to the nation’s unsung heroes as they do not always get tangible rewards or recognitions when they perform their sworn duty with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty  and efficiency. Their satisfaction often comes from being given the opportunity to serve the public, thus help enrich the lives of their fellow Filipinos.

The Business of Consumers: Preferential treatment as deserved by senior citizens in the country

OVER the past years, life expectancy has increased rapidly. In the 1950s a man was expected to live less than 70 years and a woman slightly more. Today life expectancy is more than 80 and rising.

The Business of Consumers: DTI to consumers: Look for PS and ICC marks to ensure quality, safety of LPG cylinders

STATISTICS show that substandard liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders are among the causes of fire incidents in the country.  From 2000 to July 2005, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) recorded a total of 51,295 fire incidents wherein 1,276 or 2.5 percent were LPG-related.

The Business of Consumers: Consumers have a right to seek remedy for defective products, unsatisfactory services

IN business and legal transactions, a warranty is a contract , whether express or implied, between the buyer and the seller, manufacturer, producer or distributor of a consumer product or service concerning the rights and obligations of both parties in a sale or lease transaction. 

The Business of Consumers: When sales acts are considered deceptive

LISTENERS of Konsyumer Atbp. have been asking about their right when it comes to deceptive, unfair and unconscionable sales acts or practices like retailers passing off secondhand goods as brand-new by using new packaging.

The Business of Consumers: Consumer protection when disaster strikes

IN a message sent to Konsyumer Atbp. through text, a listener inquires about her protection against sudden price increases, especially during periods of calamity.

The Business of Consumers: Disaster preparedness: Know what to do before a typhoon strikes

IN the Philippines an average of 20 typhoons hit annually, leaving a trail of deaths, injuries and damaged properties worth billions of pesos. Typhoons that have left their marks were Milenyo, Reming, Lando, Mina and only this week—Frank.

The Business of Consumers: Calling on all consumers to shift to cost-effective lights

HOWEVER or whichever way we put it, there is no denying that humans are affecting the planet through rampant energy consumption.

WITH the advent of electronic commerce (e-commerce) in the country, online shopping has slowly made its way to the Filipino buying culture. Today, more and more Internet-savvy consumers are stepping into “virtual retail outlets” to find a vast collection of products, ranging from the simple to novelty, or from cheap to classy.

IN a message sent to konsyumeratbp@gmail.com, a reader inquired about his right to return a defective product.

Mr. Rommel Adolfo bought a pair of rubber shoes at a shopping center in Metro Manila. He shelled out more than P4,000 to get an original, well-known brand that he thought could last for years or at least up to its recommended 350 miles to 550 miles of use.

IT”S school time again! Some may be a little sad that the end of summer is fast approaching, while others just can’t wait to go back to school and look forward to new things: social scenes, teachers, classmates and friends.

THE back-to-school season is a stressful time for consumers—there’s tuition to take care of, uniforms to order, budgeting for daily allowance, and school supplies to purchase.