Product standard law to boost MSME competitiveness

A PROPOSED LAW to create a unified framework for product standards and testing should prioritize micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to ensure smaller firms can meet global market requirements, analysts said.

- By Beatriz Marie D. Cruz Reporter

“Normally, micro and small companies may not have the kind of quality control setup that larger firms possess, but we don’t want them left behind,” Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman George T. Barcelon said by telephone. “The law must be simple to understand and easy to apply.”

The National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) bill, under consideration in both the House of Representatives and Senate, seeks to consolidate standards, metrology, accreditation and conformity assessment across industries.

It aims to align Philippine practices with international norms, potentially opening access for domestic products to foreign markets.