Describes the country's standards landscape, identifies the national standards and accreditation bodies, and lists the main national testing organization(s) and conformity assessment bodies.
Last Published: 7/18/2019

The Standards system in the Philippines is more government-driven than market-driven, although government consults with industry/local stakeholders in the formulation of the Philippine National Standards (PNS).

The Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS), under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), is the Philippines' national Standards body that develops, promulgates, implements, and promotes standardization activities in the Philippines.

There are two types of Standards classification -- voluntary and mandatory.  The BPS implements mandatory product certification schemes for certain products divided into categories, namely, building and construction, electrical and electronics, chemical and consumer products. The BPS subjects these products under its list of PNS for mandatory certification to inspection and testing methods prior to distribution and sale in the Philippine market with the necessary Philippine Standard (PS) or Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) marks. (http://www.bps.dti.gov.ph/)  The BPS provides the Bureau of Customs (BOC) a list of products under mandatory BPS product certification as a guide to incoming shipments. 

The BPS prepares a work plan based on national priorities tasking the 39 Technical Committees doing standards development work.  BPS likewise coordinates standards development activities with other agencies such as the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health. Updates of ongoing standards development are posted at the BPS portal but not on an annual plan system.

Specific qualifications are required for Technical Committee work to develop Philippine National Standards. Expertise is evaluated based on demonstrated experience and educational background. Nomination from organization/sector being represented is required. Other interested parties may be allowed to attend TC meetings as observers.

Standards

The Consumer Act of the Philippines (Republic Act 7394) provides that the development and provision of quality and safety standards for consumer products, including performance or use-oriented standards, codes of practice and methods of tests, shall be implemented by the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Health (DOH), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Through the Standards Law (Republic Act 4109), the BPS formulates Philippine National Standards (PNS) or adopts relevant international or foreign standards to help industries produce quality products or services and raise productivity. Draft standards are circulated for comments for at least 60 days.

The BPS operates 39 active Technical Committees (TCs) and 13 Sub-Committees and Working Groups for the development, adoption, and review of PNS.

The Philippines is a member of the International Organization for Standardization or ISO. ISO develops voluntary standards on quality, safety and efficiency of products, services, and systems from technology to food safety, construction, agriculture and healthcare. Under the ISO, the BPS is a Participating Member (P-Member) to 23 Technical Committees (TCs), 20 Sub-Committees (SCs), and two Project Committees (PCs), and an Observing Member (0-Member) to 58 TCs and 36 SCs.

As the National Standards Body of the Philippines, the Bureau of Philippine Standards maintains Technical Committees that develop standards and align the Philippine National Standards (PNS) to the International Standards of the ISO, IEC, ITU, and CODEX Alimentarius.  The BPS refers to ASTM standards in developing PNS, which is made possible through a Memorandum of Agreement with ASTM.

Similarly, the BPS participates in the International Electrotechnical Committee or IEC, that prepares and publishes voluntary standards for electrical, electronic, and related technologies. Under the IEC, the BPS is a P-Member to four (4) TCs and four (4) SCs, and an O-Member to nine (9) TCs and 16 SCs.

The BPS also refers to other US national standards, including ASME and IEE, in the development of PNS.  However, the BPS has not consulted with any U.S. Standard Developing Organizations concerning standards and the standardization process.

The BPS implements mandatory product certification schemes for certain products divided into categories, namely, building and construction, electrical and electronics, chemical and consumer products. The BPS subjects these products under its list of PNS for mandatory certification to inspection and testing methods prior to distribution and sale in the Philippine market with the necessary Philippine Standard (PS) or Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) marks.

Under the PS Certification Scheme based on the Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 4:2008, a manufacturer shall secure a license to use the Philippine Standard (PS) mark to show the consistent compliance of its product with the requirements of a specific PNS. The BPS assesses a manufacturer's production processes and product.

Under the ICC Certification Scheme according to the DTI DAO No. 5:2008, an importer shall acquire an ICC certificate to use the ICC sticker on imported products which demonstrate conformance to the requirements of an applicable PNS. The BPS, through the DTI Regional and Provincial Offices, subjects import shipments to sampling and testing procedures and evaluation.
DAO 05:2008 specifies that importers are offered four options for their applications to be processed, which include: (1) an application without a Product Test Report but with a Quality

Management System (QMS) based on the ISO 9001:2000 and its future amendments; (2) an application with a Product Test Report and with a QMS based on the ISO 9001:2000 and its future amendments; (3) an application without a Product Test Report and without a QMS; and (4) an application with the Philippine Standard (PS) license from a foreign supplier. There are 75 listed Philippine National Standards which cover 85 products and three (3) services under the BPS Mandatory Certification Scheme.

Conformity Assessment

The Department of Trade and Industry's Philippine Accreditation Bureau (DTI-PAB) is the national accreditation body by virtue of Executive Order 802.  It is mandated to accredit testing, calibration laboratories, certification bodies, inspection bodies, and other bodies offering conformity assessment services needed by the country.
The Philippine Accreditation Bureau (PAB) was under the office of the Undersecretary of the Consumer Protection Group (CPG) until the issuance of the Department Order (DO) no. 17-35 on 29 March 2017.  The organizational reforms under the DO stipulates the transfer of PAB under the Office of the Undersecretary of the Industry Development and Trade Policy Group (IDTPG) until its subsequent transfer to the Office of the Undersecretary of Competitiveness and Innovation Group (CIG) on February 21, 2019.
PAB operates based on ISO/IEC 17011, the international standard that specifies requirements for the competence, consistent operation and impartiality of accreditation bodies assessing and accrediting conformity assessment bodies.

PAB is recognized internationally through its membership to the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and International Halal Accreditation Forum (IHAF) and regionally through its membership to Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC).  PAB is signatory to the APAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) for Calibration, Certification, Inspection, Medical Testing and Testing.

PAB is composed of three divisions, namely:
Management Systems Accreditation Division (MSAD)

MSAD handles the following accreditation schemes for:
•    Certification Body based on ISO/IEC 17021-1 (Conformity assessment - Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems) that certifies organization to:

  • ISO 9001 (Quality Management System)
  • ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System)
  • ISO 22000 (Food Safety Management System) / Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)
  • ISO/IEC 27001 (information Security Management System)
  • ISO 50001 (Energy Management System)

•      Product Certification Body based on ISO/IEC 17065 -Conformity assessment - Requirement for bodies certifying products, processes and services.
•      Person Certification Body based on ISO/IEC 17024 - Conformity assessment - Requirement for bodies certifying persons


Laboratory Accreditation Division (LAD)
LAD handles the accreditation scheme for:
•      Testing and calibration laboratories based on ISO/IEC 17025 - General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories.
•      Medical testing laboratories based on ISO 15189 - Medical laboratories - particular requirements for quality and competence.
•      Inspection bodies based on ISO/IEC 17020 - Conformity assessment - Requirements for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection.

Promotion and Documentation Division (PDD)
PDD promotes accreditation activities; extend technical assistance to trade and industry sectors through training programs; make information on accreditation schemes available to institutions, organizations, business and individuals concerned; and ensure that all information from the different regional and international fora are processed, disseminated and acted upon.

Contact Information:
Philippine Accreditation Bureau
3rd floor Tara Bldg.
389 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Makati City
E-mail: pab@dti.gov.ph

Mr. Ernani M. Dionisio
Officer-In-Charge, Assistant Director
Mobile No: 0917-811-9651
Email: ErnaniDionsiio@dti.gov.ph; pab@dti.gov.ph

Ms. Maria Juanita P. Carpio
Division Chief, Management System Accreditation Division
Mobile No: 0917-814-2344
Email: JuanitaCarpio@dti.gov.ph

Ms. Perla F. Baje
Division Chief, Laboratory Accreditation Division
Mobile No: 0917-811-6026
Email: PerlaBaje@dti.gov.ph

Ms. Amor F. Lahoz
Division Chief, Promotion and Documentation Division
Mobile No: 0917-802-0047
Email: pab@dti.gov.ph
 

Testing, Inspection and Certification

All products under Mandatory Regulation of the BPS require test reports in accordance with what is required by Philippine National Standards.  The tests are conducted by BPS or its recognized laboratories.

The BPS offers its clients a third-party testing of electrical, electronic, chemical, mechanical, calibration, and consumer products through its BPS Testing Center to verify conformity to PNS requirements that support the Philippine Standard (PS) and Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) product certification schemes.  http://www.bps.dti.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=94&Itemid=77.
To further facilitate the ease in doing business on the issuance of the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) as stated in the DTI DAO No. 15-01, certain products are now delisted from the List of Products under Mandatory Certification subject to compliance with markings and labelling requirements. Also, the BPS shall process the ICC within 16 working days from filing, if importers comply with the necessary requirements prior to the release of the certificate.

The BPS offers the following support services: Standards Data Center, a library for PNS; Sales and Publication; and Trainings/Seminars. Basic information on BPS services is available at http://www.bps.dti.gov.ph and queries can be sent to bps@dti.gov.ph.

To achieve its objectives in standardization and product certification, the BPS has established networks with local Government agencies, regional standardization bodies, and specialist regional bodies. This includes the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and ASEAN Consultative Committee on Standards and Quality (ACCSQ), among others. BPS' involvement with the said bodies/organizations aims to strengthen the country's technical infrastructure for its conformity assessment, testing and calibration, and standards information services.

The Philippines is a Party to the World Trade Organization (WTO) including the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement). The WTO-TBT agreement provides that the BPS ensure that Philippine National Standards are not prepared, adopted, or applied with a view to or with the effect of creating obstacles to international trade.  In compliance to this provision, the BPS aligns its national standards with available international standards, where appropriate.

Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are required under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement) to notify to the WTO proposed technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures that could affect trade. Notify U.S. (www.nist.gov/notifyus) is a free, web-based e-mail registration service that captures and makes available for review and comment key information on draft regulations and conformity assessment procedures. Users receive customized e-mail alerts when new notifications are added by selected country(ies) and industry sector(s) of interest, and can also request full texts of regulations. This service and its associated web site are managed and operated by the USA WTO TBT Inquiry Point housed within the National Institute of Standards and Technology, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Publication of Technical Regulations

To ensure that information on said notifications are available, BPS maintains a Standards and Conformance Portal at www.bps.dti.gov.ph which houses the Philippines' TBT Enquiry
Point Page. The page also hosts a weekly publication called the BPS WTO TBT Notifications Bulletin. This weekly bulletin is envisaged to simplify access to information by containing direct links to the notifications made by WTO members. The BPS also provides a summary of notifications by sector through its online dissemination to stakeholders.

The Bureau circulates draft technical regulations for comment at a certain period. All approved Department Administrative Orders (DAOs) for the implementation of PNS under mandatory certification are published in two newspapers of general circulation. These technical regulations are posted in the Standards and Conformance Portal.

Recently issued Department Orders that may impact U.S. products:
DAO 17-06 – Portland cement and blended hydraulic cement with pozzolan
DAO 18-02 – Household and similar electrical appliances
DAO 18-03 – Self-ballasted LED lamps for general lighting services

Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are required under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement) to notify to the WTO proposed technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures that could affect trade. Notify U.S. (www.nist.gov/notifyus) is a free, web-based e-mail registration service that captures and makes available for review and comment key information on draft regulations and conformity assessment procedures. Users receive customized e-mail alerts when new notifications are added by selected country(ies) and industry sector(s) of interest, and can also request full texts of regulations.  This service and its associated web site are managed and operated by the USA WTO TBT Inquiry Point housed within the National Institute of Standards and Technology, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Contact Information

Engineer James E. Empeño
Director IV
Bureau of Philippine Standards
Email: BPS@dti.gov.ph

Dey Robles
Commercial Specialist
U.S. Commercial Service – Philippines
Email: Dey.Robles@trade.gov

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