Customs monitoring entry of substandard Christmas lights

MANILA, Philippines – Agents of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) have intensified the monitoring of importers bringing in sub-standard Christmas lights.

Director Jairus Paguntalan of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) said he issued a memorandum to all operating units to be on the look out for the importation of products that are expected to proliferate during the Christmas season.

The order was issued to operatives of the Revenue Collection and Monitoring Group (RCMG), Port of Manila (PoM), Manila International Container Port (MICP), Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Warehouse and Drawback Unit (WDU), Philippine Export Zone Area (PEZA) in Cavite, Laguna and their extensions, Port of Batangas, and the BOC offices in Northern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao Region.

“In line with the coming holiday season, previous directives are hereby reiterated, to monitor shipments,” said Paguntalan.

Aside from Christmas lights, which have caused several fires, the bureau would also monitor the arrival of imported pyrotechnics, toys, poultry products, dairy products, meat, and other agricultural products.

“This directive does not only cover products from China but from other countries as well. The products should pass the specifications set by the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI),” he said.

Paguntalan said that through this effort the bureau would be able to prevent fires and accidents caused by faulty and sub-standard lights and firecrackers.

The bureau agents should make sure that the importers of these shipments would be able to present all the necessary import documents and comply with the required clearances, certificates and permits from the respective regulating government agencies and foreign suppliers.