Flavored vapor ban bandwagon picks up Philippines as passenger

The Philippines’ Department of Finance is pushing for a ban on flavored vapor products to discourage youth from vaping, reports The Inquirer.

“Our original position has always been to make sure that the flavors appealing to the youth are not allowed,” said Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua.

President Rodrigo Duterte has reportedly said he wants e-cigarettes to taste only like tobacco.

Assistant Finance Secretary Tony Lambino said higher vapor product taxes would add about PHP2 billion ($39.2 million) in revenues if implemented next year.

For its part, the Bureau of Internal Revenue is already preparing new tax stamps in anticipation of increases in cigarette and alcohol taxes.

These taxes are expected to generate PHP47 billion in revenues during the first year of implementation.