DTI mulls proposal to adopt product standards of other countries

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is studying a proposal to adopt product standards set by other countries.

Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas II said this is among the measures being studied by the DTI in order to lower the cost of manufacturing in the country and to improve the sector’s competitiveness given the imminent competition from China’s entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Cross certification of standards means that product standards set in other countries will be accepted in the country, eliminating the need for the Philippines to set its own standard.

For instance, Roxas explained, "If a certain product standard set in Singapore is good enough for its citizens, then let’s not try to develop our own standard, unless there is a compelling reason to or due to conditions unique to our country."

Roxas pointed out that such an approach to product standards would have an impact on the cost of products in the country.

He said, "this will have a tremendous effect on the product cost since you are purchasing off a global supply chain as opposed to a product specifically meant for the Philippines."

Meanwhile, Roxas said the Philippines stands to benefit from the substantial perks extended by 39-nation International Coffee Organization (ICO) as it accedes to the International Coffee Agreement of 2001.

Roxas said the Philippines could be a potential beneficiary of $60-million worth of coffee development projects meant to improve quality of the product and combat diseases that attack coffee beans and plants.