DTI suspends PS licenses of 6 steel firms

The Department of Trade and Industry said Tuesday it suspended the Philippine Standard licenses of six steel manufacturers in 2019 for allegedly producing non-conforming steel products.

It said in a statement Maxima Steel Mills Corp., Henro Steel Corp., Steel Asia Manufacturing Corp., Cathay Metal Corp., Somico Steel Mill Corp. and Sagarthama Steel Trading Corp. failed the independent testing commissioned by the DTI-Bureau of Philippine Standards from the Metals Industry Research and Development Center.

The agency said the suspension order resulted from unannounced surveillance audits conducted by the BPS in 2019 on several steel manufacturing plants in the country.

Samples culled from the audits that were subjected to testing by the MIRDC proved that the six steel manufacturers were not compliant with the standards indicated in Philippine National Standard 49, Series of 2002.  

“Until these steel manufacturers comply with the PNS, their PS licenses will remain suspended,” the DTI said.

It said the BPS denied the issuance of import commodity clearances for deformed steel bars and equal leg angle bars imported by Megawide Construction Corp., Petron Corp. and Remington Industrial Sales Corp. which were valued at more than P68 million.

It said the deformed steel bars imported by Megawide were denied issuance of ICC due to non-compliance with PNS 49:2002 while those imported by Petron had no proper markings.

The department said Remington had no valid PS license for the importation of equal leg angle bars. All these imported steel bars were either destroyed or exported to their country of origin.

“For the whole of 2019, the DTI penalized a total of 42 retailers and manufacturers of steel—a clear contrast to the claim of a product safety and quality group that the department failed to charge violating steel manufacturers and traders for substandard steel products,” it said.

The DTI said it would stop at nothing in tracking down unscrupulous businesses and ensuring that violators are dealt with to the highest and fullest extent of the law. 

“The protection of consumers is our utmost priority, and we remain steadfast in our commitment,” said Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez.

It also urged the public to remain vigilant when purchasing products, including steel and other construction materials. “Always look for the PS or ICC mark to be assured of quality and safety,” the agency said.