THE DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry (DTI) is considering making its trustmark policy for online sellers permanently voluntary.
The DTI Trustmark is a digital badge that signifies complies with e-commerce, consumer protection and data privacy standards. Trustmarks can be verified through a QR code.
Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said the policy is voluntary until the end of the year but that policy may be extended. She added DTI will also check how the policy is impacting online sellers already adhering to the policy.
“We’re open naman to whatever is really best for the consumers also… Sobrang daming problema sa e-commerce site, ‘yung mga nagbebenta. Kawawa naman yung mga consumers,” Roque said referring to the proliferation of fake or illegal products sold online.
DTI earlier issued a policy mandating online sellers to apply for a trustmark digital badge to be displayed on the seller’s website or e-commerce page.
Initial implementation made getting a trustmark voluntary.
Many sellers however are complaining that the new policy adds another layer of difficulty for small businesses and an added expense as well.
For micro and small businesses, the application fee is waived for the first year, but bigger businesses will have to pay P1,130. The trustmarks are valid for a year.
Roque said the trustmark is similar to a certification of Food and Drug Administration approval.
“People would still rather buy FDA-approved medicines than those that are not FDA approved,” she added.
She said she will raise the issue when she meets representatives of e-commerce platforms next week.
Roque added she will also ask some of them to explain the additional P5 transaction fee that some platforms pass on to customers. (ABS-CBN News)
