General Standards
The Philippines represent one of the largest markets in south east Asia and it could become the 16th largest economy of the world by 2050. The country is a member to the International Organization for Standardization, the world's largest developer of voluntary international standards on quality, safety and efficiency of products.
Standards organizations
The Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) and the Philippine Accreditation Bureau (PAB) are two main standardization bodies of the country.
The Bureau of Philippine Standards is responsible for developing, promulgating, implementing and promoting standardization activities. The BPS also formulates Philippine National Standards or adopts relevant international standards to help industries produce quality products. Some of the international standards adopted by the BPS include ISO 9000, Environmental Management System (ISO 14000), and Quality System for Calibration and Testing Laboratories (ISO 17025).
The Philippine Accreditation Bureau is in charge of the accreditation of conformity assessment bodies in the country.
Conformity Assessment
The testing of electrical, electronic, chemical and mechanical products is done by the BPS' third-party system. The testing of consumer goods is performed by the BPS Testing Center. The BPS Testing Center verifies the conformity of the products to PNS requirements and Import Commodity Clearance product certification schemes.
Labeling and Marking
The country of origin must be clearly stated on the label of imported products (in English). Generally, the labels on all consumer products should indicate the following details:
- registered brand name
- registered trade mark
- registered business name
- address of the manufacturer, importer or repacker in the Philippines
- general make or active ingredients
- net quantity of contents
- the country of manufacture
Product Certification
The Bureau of Philippine Standards implements obligatory product certification schemes for certain products divided into categories such as building and construction, electrical and electronics, chemical and consumer products. The agency subjects these goods 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 or Import Commodity Clearance marks.
Accreditation
The Philippine Accreditation Bureau (PAB) is responsible for the accreditation of conformity assessment bodies in the country. The PAB operates based on ISO/IEC 17011 general requirements for accreditation bodies. The agency is recognized internationally as it is a member of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC), Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC), Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC).
PAB is also a signatory to the Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) for Quality Management System (QMS) and Environmental Management System (EMS) of PAC and IAF; and Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) for testing and calibration of APLAC and ILAC.
The PAB offers accreditation schemes for:
- Testing and Calibration Laboratories
- Medical Testing Laboratories
- Inspection Bodies
- Quality Management Certification Bodies
- Environmental Management Certification Bodies
- Food Safety Management System Certification Bodies
- Product Certification Bodies
- Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Certification Bodies
- Management System Accreditation (MSA) - accreditation scheme for Certification Bodies
- Laboratory Accreditation - accreditation schemes for inspection bodies, medical laboratories, testing and calibration laboratories
Contacts
Bureau of Philippine Standards/Department of Trade and Industry
Food and Drug Administration
Packaging Institute of the Philippines
Standards Mainstreaming Division
