BUREAU OF PRODUCT STANDARDS:

Philippine Standard and Import Commodity Clearance

Bureau of Product Standards

The Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) is the national standards body of the Philippines recognized by
the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).1 The Bureau shall have charge of the
establishment of standards for, and inspection of, all agricultural, forest, mineral, fish, industrial and all
other products of the Philippines for which no standards have as yet been fixed by law, executive order,
rules and regulations; and the inspection and certification of the quality of commodities imported into
the Philippines, to determine the country of origin of the articles which are the growth, raw materials,
manufacture, process, or produce, and to determine if they satisfy the buyer's or importer's
requirements or specifications for domestic consumption; and to prohibit the discharge and/or release
of any article which are the growth, raw materials, manufacture, process, or produce of countries
without trade relations with the Philippine government.2

Product Certification Scheme - ICC and PS

The BPS operates product certification schemes to ensure quality and safety of products produced
locally and those imported into the country. Under the BPS Philippine Standard (PS) Certification
Scheme, a manufacturer obtains a license to use the Philippine Standard (PS) Quality and Safety Marks
for its capability to consistently manufacture products in accordance with a specific Philippine National
Standard (PNS) or an internationally accepted foreign standard. Conformity to standard is determined
on the basis of satisfactory results of the assessment of the quality management system of the
manufacturer’s production and conformance of product to requirements of specific standard.

For imported products, the BPS runs the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) certification scheme. Under
the scheme, ICCs are issued to importers whose shipments have been found to conform to the
requirements of the relevant Philippine National Standards or acceptable international or foreign
standards.3

Category of products under Product Certification Scheme

Mandatory Certification – Medium and high-risk products that pose a threat to health, life and safety on
consumers and the public. (Annex A)

Mandatory Labeling – Low-risk products but are considered priority shall be required to comply with the
marking and labeling prescribed by the relevant standard. (Annex B)

Voluntary Certification – Low-risk products not included in the priority lists but are covered by an
existing Philippine National Standard (PNS). A company may, at its option, apply for voluntary
certification subject to the availability of qualified auditors (for PS Scheme) and testing laboratories. 4
Use of the Mark

1 BPS - http://www.bps.dti.gov.ph
2 REPUBLIC ACT NO. 4109
3 Product Certification - http://www.bps.dti.gov.ph
4 Draft DAO on the New Rules and Regulations Concerning the Product Certification Schemes of the BPS
The licensee shall affix the PS Mark only on certified product covered by a valid PS License and
Certificates. The licensee shall not use the PS Mark in such a manner as to bring BPS into dispute and
does not make any statement relevant to its PS Certification, which the BPS may consider misleading or
unauthorized.5

The Licensee shall affix the ICC Mark on the product covered by the Certificate. In case marking or
sticking of the ICC Mark on the product is not possible, the Mark shall appear on the package of the
product. The ICC license number may be placed below the logo including the batch/ serial number of
the product. 6

Application for the Mark

The manufacturer or importer shall file the application7. Manufacturers of any product covered by
mandatory product certification are required to first secure a PS license prior to selling, offering for sale,
or otherwise. Importer of any product covered by mandatory product certification are required to first
secure an Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) pursuant to DAO 5, Series of 2001 and its future
amendments or revisions prior to selling, offering for sale, or otherwise disposing of their products.8

5 Guidelines in the use of PS Certificate, Mark and License and the Actions on the Misuse of the PS Certificate, Mark and License.
6 Guidelines on the use of the import commodity clearance (ICC) mark
7 Guidelines in the use of PS Certificate, Mark and License and the Actions on the Misuse of the PS Certificate, Mark and License.
8 DAO 2-2007