BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance prohibiting the sale of wet wipes and other similar baby products with harmful ingredients in all establishments in the city.
The ordinance authored by Vice Mayor Faustino A. Olowan stated the selling of wet wipes and other similar baby products allegedly containing harmful ingredients such as methylchloroisothiazolinone, and iodopropynyl butylcarbamateare will be prohibited in the city.
The ordinance tasks the City Health Services office in coordination with the Public Order and Safety Division, Baguio City Police Office, and the barangays to conduct the needed inspections of all grocery stores, black market, supermarkets, and convenient stores, among others, and confiscate the prohibited and non-compliant products as provided in the proposed city legislative measure.
Further, the City Health Services Office shall prepare an inventory of all confiscated products to include the name of the establishment, location, type and number of prohibited items or confiscated items, and the mode of disposal conducted.
The ordinance stipulates the City Health Services Office in coordination with the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) shall determine the appropriate and environment-friendly disposal of confiscated items.
The ordinance discloses that individuals or businesses that voluntarily surrender or submit to the City Health Services Office prohibited or non-compliant products as listed in the measure shall not be penalized.
According to the proposed measure, the City Health Services Office shall coordinate with the FDA on the list of prohibited were wipes and other similar baby products which contain harmful ingredients and that the final list of prohibited products shall be prepared by the City Health Services Office and shall be disseminated or informed to the public through the quad media and the business sector.
Initially, among the already determined prohibited or non-compliant products are Dong Bang baby wipes, Dong Bang Yao baby tender baby wipes, Family Treasure baby tender baby wipes, Sky Fire baby tender baby wipes, Giggley baby wipes and Super Soft Skin Care wet towel.
Under the proposed city legislative measure, establishments found to have violated the pertinent provisions of the ordinance shall be penalized a fine of P1,000 for establishments with business permit and immediate closure of establishments without business permits for the first offense, a fine of P3,000 for the second offense and a fine of P5,000 and non-renewal of business permit for the third offense.
The ordinance directs the City Health Services Office in coordination with the other concerned departments shall prepare the implementing rules and regulations of the measure once approved.
Moreover, the City Public Information Office under the City Mayor’s Office and the Information Office of the city legislative body shall cause the widest dissemination of the provisions of the measure to fully inform the public as well as establishments on their strict compliance to the same. By Dexter A. See
