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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Local glass makers urge DTI to impose import standards

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Local glass manufacturers said they expect the Trade Department to re-impose the mandatory standards for both locally-manufactured and imported glass products.

The Flat Glass Alliance of the Philippines Inc. said it was hoping the standards would be implemented within the first quarter of 2019.

Concerns on the safety and quality of flat glass in the country prompted the Trade Department to review the imposition of mandatory standards again.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez ordered the review to determine if there was a need to include flat glass in the list.

Members of FGAPI sought audience with the department to address the alleged deteriorating quality and safety of imported glass amid the lack of standards for these products.

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The group alleged that many of the imports did not comply with the mandatory thickness of glass. A flat glass is the semi-finished material used to make other kinds of glasses.

The importation of flat glass surged after the government relaxed the rules on mandatory quality control.

The Trade Department removed flat glass under the mandatory list in 2015 and placed it under voluntary list following a department review that glass products were not as life threatening as other products.

FGAPI pushed for subjecting the industry to mandatory standards at this time of the co-called “golden age” of infrastructure.

Industry data showed that daily demand for flat glass is about 600 metric tons, translating into 18,000 MT per month.

Domestic and imported glass have similar share of 50 percent each of the Philippine market.

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