Lapid bill to establish Product Safety Online Information Center

Senator Lito Lapid has filed a bill that seeks to establish a Product Safety Online Information Center that will publish online recalls, prohibitions, bans, defects and other relevant safety information on consumer products and motor vehicles, as well as their ingredients or components.

“Karapatan ng bawat consumer sa ating bansa na maprotektahan sila mula sa mga produkto na hindi maayos ang pagkakagawa o kaya naman ay naglalaman ng mga delikado o hazardous components,” he said.

“Mapapaigting ang proteksyong ito para sa mga consumer kung mabibigyan sila ng iba’t-ibang ahensya ng gobyerno ng kumpletong impormasyon kaugnay sa product safety lalo na kung ang nasabing produkto ay nirecall, pinagbabawal o napatunayang sira at hindi ligtas gamitin. Ang mga impormasyong ito ang syang layuning mailagay sa online information center na aking pinapanukala,” Lapid explained.

Senate Bill 2144 seeks to strengthen the information dissemination and consumer education of regulatory bodies and agencies.

Lapid said the goal of this bill is “to keep our consumers informed on product safety issues and concerns in the most accessible and comprehensive manner.”

“Sa pamamagitan ng isinusulong nating Product Safety Online Information Center, hindi na kailangan pang magpakahirap ng mga consumer na hanapin ang mga impormasyong kaugnay sa iba’t-ibang produkto sa pamamagitan ng pagtingin sa mga website ng iba’t-ibang ahensya ng gobyerno, kasama na rin ang mga website ng mga manufacturers, retailers at distributors,” he said.

“Mahalagang may iisang website na maglalaman ng mga impormasyong magbibigay ng warning kung delikado ba o hindi na dapat gamitin pa ang isang produkto,” Lapid said.

Under the bill, the management and maintenance of the online information center will be a multi-agency effort involving the Department of health (DOH) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with respect to food, drugs, cosmetics, devices and substances.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) meanwhile will be responsible for products related to agriculture, including fertilizers and pesticides.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will manage the information with respect to motor vehicles while the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will be responsible for other consumer products.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)