December 1, 2015
When a manufacturer wants to export their products to multiple countries, what specific regulations do these products have to meet? UL’s research center in Manila, Philippines, has the answers.
UL Manila manages all physical, chemical and technical regulatory requirements information for the consumer and retail industries, covering a wide array of product categories such as textiles, apparel, footwear, jewelry, toys, appliances and consumer technology devices, among others. Moreover, they have insight into the certification requirements for more than 200 countries and over 5,000 different products or goods.
Each country has its own regulatory requirements on the importation and exportation of specific goods. For various product categories, the requirements in the US may be different from Saudi Arabia, Mexico or Japan. In addition, regulations are continually changing. Across the world, the concern for consumer safety is rising and the definitions of safety are evolving. Products, materials and processes are evolving at a rapid pace, and every country is working to keep regulatory and safety standards up-to-date.
With thousands of regulatory combinations, having real-time information, insight and direction become more critical. This year alone, the Manila operation has processed almost 1,500 different research requests from other UL affiliates across the globe and inquiries for consumer products have involved understanding regulations across 228 countries.
Regulatory research is just one of the many services UL offers in its Manila operation. The entity was established in August 2012 to provide supervisory, communication and coordination support for UL. To address the growing support needs of the industry, the local team has continuously expanded in size over the years with approximately 135 staff members currently.
In the past decade, the Philippines economy has been growing through the expansion of the business process outsourcing industry. In fact, 53 percent of the total workforce in 2012 was employed by the service industry, an increase from 33 percent in 1982. With a strong commitment from the Philippine government to the services industry, the country is expanding its physical and technological infrastructure, investing in workforce education and providing various business incentives.
UL Manila is at the heart of one of the leading mobile and technology hotbeds in Southeast Asia. The operation is able to capitalize on the advantages of the region’s competitive and educated workforce to serve as a center of excellence and a one-stop shop for regulatory research.
If you would like to learn more about the UL Manila Center of Excellence, please reach out to Frederick Sy at frederick.c.sy@ul.com.