Philippines DTI-BPS E-Bike Certification: Draft DAO
Philippines DTI-BPS E-Bike Certification: Draft Rules Make PS or ICC Mandatory for LEVs and Batteries
Philippines DTI-BPS e-bike certification is moving toward a mandatory scheme. The Department of Trade and Industry's Bureau of Philippine Standards (DTI-BPS) has published a draft Department Administrative Order setting a technical regulation for light electric vehicles (LEVs) and their batteries. The Philippines notified it to the WTO as G/TBT/N/PHL/378 on 20 October 2026, and comments are open until 13 December 2026.
Background: safety incidents and the EV Industry Development Act
The draft points to electrical and thermal incidents with e-mobility products, including overheating, charging-related fires and injuries, as the reason for action. It builds on the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (Republic Act No. 11697), the Standards Law and the Consumer Act. The relevant Philippine National Standards are already in place; the DAO would make certification against them mandatory.
Key Changes in the Philippines DTI-BPS E-Bike Certification Draft
Products covered
electric bicycles, including power-assisted (EPAC) and non-pedal-assist models
personal e-mobility devices, such as e-scooters
electrically propelled mopeds and motorcycles, including their propulsion and auxiliary electric systems
LEV batteries, whether fitted, removable, spare or sold separately. Batteries are certified separately from the vehicle
Charging stations and other EVSE, battery swapping stations, stationary battery storage and standalone controllers, converters and inverters are excluded.
Test standards
Product | Standard |
E-bikes | PNS UL 2849:2023 |
Personal e-mobility devices | PNS UL 2272:2023 |
Mopeds and motorcycles | PNS ISO 13063-3:2023 and PNS ISO 13063-1:2023 |
LEV batteries | PNS UL 2271:2024 and PNS ISO 18243:2023 |
The latest edition applies, and future revisions would take effect 24 months after they are issued.
Two certification routes
Manufacturers can apply for a PS Safety Certification Mark licence. It's site-specific and product-specific, needs an ISO 9001-based quality system, and brings annual factory audits. Foreign manufacturers can tie a licence to one importer or share it among several, in which case all importers are jointly liable. Importers without a PS licence use Import Commodity Clearance (ICC), issued per product, per shipment and per bill of lading after inspection and sampling. ICC testing can be waived if the importer provides a declaration of conformity and a valid report from an ILAC or APAC MRA-accredited lab, but only while no recognised Philippine lab can do the tests.
Marking
Each product type has its own marking list. For batteries, that includes chemistry, polarity, rated capacity, nominal voltage, watt-hour rating, charging instructions and warnings. Every product must also carry the PS mark with licence number or the ICC sticker. Other details may be given by e-label or QR code, but not the PS mark or ICC sticker.
What This Means for Manufacturers
E-bike, e-scooter and LEV battery makers need UL 2849, UL 2272 or UL 2271 test data that a recognised lab will accept.
Batteries sold as spares need their own certification, separate from the vehicle.
Exporters should decide between a PS licence, for repeat volume, and ICC, shipment by shipment.
Online sellers are covered too: after 24 months, only PS or ICC products may be sold online or in stores.
The comment window is the chance to raise lab capacity, shared licences or standard editions.
Certification Impact Summary
Area | Before | After (proposed) | Impact level |
Certification | Not required by a BPS technical regulation (voluntary during the first 12 months) | PS licence or ICC mandatory 12 months after effectivity | High |
Batteries | Not covered as separate products | Certified separately, including spares | High |
Retail and online sales | No PS/ICC requirement | Only PS- or ICC-marked products after 24 months | High |
Foreign test reports | Not applicable | Accepted for ICC from ILAC/APAC MRA labs if no Philippine lab can test | Medium |
Marking | General labelling | Product-specific lists plus PS mark or ICC sticker | Medium |
Standard revisions | Not applicable | New editions apply 24 months after issue | Low |
Timeline and Required Actions
Key Dates
Date | Milestone |
20 October 2026 | Draft notified to the WTO (G/TBT/N/PHL/378) |
13 December 2026 | Comment deadline |
To be confirmed | DAO takes effect 15 days after newspaper publication |
Effectivity + 12 months | PS or ICC certification mandatory |
Effectivity + 24 months | Monitoring and enforcement; only certified products on sale |
Required Actions for Manufacturers
Map your e-bikes, e-scooters, mopeds, motorcycles and batteries to the four product categories.
Check your test reports against the PNS editions listed in Rule 9.2.
Decide between a PS licence and ICC for each product line.
Prepare a quality manual and traceability procedure if you aim for a PS licence.
Update labels with the required markings and space for the PS mark or ICC sticker.
Send comments to DTI-BPS by 13 December 2026.
Conclusion
The draft would make Philippines DTI-BPS e-bike certification mandatory for the full range of light electric vehicles and their batteries, with a two-year runway once the order takes effect. Manufacturers that line up UL and ISO test data now will be ready for either the PS or ICC route. Our team can support your Philippine certification and comments through the agency in the Philippines.
