MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is moving to place solar energy equipment, such as panels and batteries, under its mandatory product certification program, a measure aimed at ensuring the safety, quality, and reliability of solar technologies sold in the country.
Under a draft department administrative order prepared by the DTI’s Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS), manufacturers and importers of key solar power components would be required to secure government certification before their products can be marketed locally.
The proposal covers a range of equipment used in solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, including solar panels, battery energy storage systems, inverters, charge controllers, and cables for residential and commercial installations.
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If adopted, the regulation would apply to both locally produced and imported products.
Frank Macula, chief of the Electrical and Electronic Products Certification Division of the DTI-BPS, said the initiative seeks to address concerns about the growing volume of solar equipment entering the Philippine market without undergoing local quality verification.
“We want to ensure that solar components being sold and installed in the country meet established standards so consumers can use them safely and confidently,” Macula said.
The planned certification requirement is expected to complement existing policies of the Department of Energy (DOE), which regulate the accreditation and registration of solar PV installers.
According to Macula, requiring certification would help ensure compliance with Philippine National Standards and provide consumers with greater assurance regarding product performance and safety.
At present, solar equipment is not included in the DTI’s list of products subject to mandatory certification. As a result, solar components can be sold in the Philippines without obtaining local certification and may only carry approvals issued by foreign regulatory bodies.
Once the proposed rules take effect, solar products that fail to obtain the required certifications could be prohibited from being sold in the domestic market. Authorities may also confiscate non-compliant products, Macula said.
The DTI, however, emphasized that affected businesses would be given sufficient time to adjust to the new requirements.
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The agency scheduled its first public consultation on the draft order for May 26, bringing together stakeholders from the DOE, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), and Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), among others.
Following the consultation, industry participants and other stakeholders will have 60 days to submit feedback, comments, and recommendations on the proposed regulation.
Once finalized, the order will include a one-year transition period to allow manufacturers, suppliers, and importers to secure the necessary certifications before full enforcement begins.
The DTI currently requires mandatory certification for 111 product categories, ranging from household appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners to electrical products including circuit breakers and electric vehicle charging equipment.
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