DTI warns public vs fake ICC sticker

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 7 warns the public to be cautious in buying motorcycle helmets as some establishments are selling helmets with fake Import Commodity Clearance or ICC sticker.

A retailer in Dumaguete City was caught by the DTI Bureau of Product Standards and the DTI Negros Oriental Provincial Office having motorcycle helmets bearing fake ICC stickers in their shop.

The retailer has 42 branches nationwide including Cebu.

The said ICC stickers were allegedly supplied by an importer.

DTI 7 Regional Director Asteria Caberte said they conducted a series of investigation and DTI filed formal charges against the retailer and the importer.

Summons were already served to the retailer yesterday.

The DTI Head Office instructed its regional and provincial offices nationwide to monitor all the branches of the said retailing company and to validate the authenticity of the ICC stickers on their helmets.

DTI Cebu Provincial Head Nelia Navarro said yesterday that the store owner may have pulled out the supplies with fake ICC sticker after the Dumaguete incident because they did not find anything illegal during their monitoring.

 Zaide Bation, chief of the Regulatory Division of DTI-Cebu said that the retailer voluntarily pulled out their stocks for all stores nationwide.

So far, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) 7 has not apprehended anyone wearing a helmet with fake ICC sticker.

“We cannot tell if the ICC sticker is fake or genuine. Only DTI has the technical competence to do that,” said LTO-7 regional director Raul Aguilos.

Since the Motorcycle Helmet Act was implemented last January 2, hundreds were apprehended by LTO-7 for failure to wear the prescribed headgear.

Caberte added that ICC stickers are produced with many imbedded security features to prevent tampering, a crime that carries a penalty of P10,000 to P20,000  fine.

Under Republic Act 4109 or the Standards Law and Its Implementing Guidelines, all manufacturers and importers of standard protective motorcycle helmets are required to secure a Philippine Standard license and ICC certificate prior to the sale and distribution of their products in the market. (FREEMAN)