Tag: Philippines

Health Department Wants Stricter Vape Rules

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The Philippines Department of Health (DOH) is gathering data on vaping prevalence in the country, reports Malaya Business Insight.
DOH Undersecretary Eric Tayag said the information will be used to convince policymakers to strengthen laws against vaping.
According to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), e-cigarette users among the youth increased from 11.7 percent in 2015 to 24.5 percent in 2019.
The DOH statement comes after nine former health officials called on the Philippine delegation to the 10th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP10) of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) to take the lead in pushing for the fight against vapes and electronic cigarettes.
The former DOH secretaries and undersecretaries believe the Philippine delegation should speak about the serious threat to public health brought about by weak Philippine regulations on e-cigarettes and vapes.
February 7, 2024
Philippines: New Rules for Vape Supplier Imports

Port of Manila, Philippines. Seaport loading cranes in sunset light. (Credit: Tupon Gato)
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in the Philippines said it will require importers of raw materials for vaping products to seek special clearances to release their shipments.
The agency cited the need to impose order on an industry with many emerging players, according to media reports.
“For vape products, we are going to require them to (apply for) the authority to release imported goods for raw materials,” BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui, Jr. said. “We are thinking of ways to regulate because there are so many vape products now. The production of vape products is a backyard industry, so we’re thinking of ways to regulate it.”
In its latest revenue memorandum circular, the BIR announced that it is now requiring importers or manufacturers of raw materials and equipment used to make heated tobacco products and vapor products to apply for an authority to release imported goods.
“The raw materials specially used for the manufacture of heated tobacco products and vapor products shall include but are not limited to: propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, organic sweetener, artificial flavoring, and nicotine,” according to the circular.
Devices used for the manufacture of these products will also include but are not limited to mechanical or electric heating elements/atomizers, circuits, cartridges, reservoirs, pods, tanks, mods, and mouthpieces.
Apart from the authority to release imported goods, importers and manufacturers must also apply for a permit to operate. Lumagui said that the BIR is working on addressing the shortfall from excise tax collections, which is mainly due to illicit tobacco.
“We’re targeting to minimize that 20 percent (shortfall). Within the year, we can cut that by more than half… ultimately, I want to make sure to fully resolve that shortfall,” he said.
August 7, 2023
Media: Philippine Police to Arrest Youth Using Vapes

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The Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday announced that it would arrest students caught vaping and smoking in public places.
In an interview aired over dzBB, PNP Public Information Office chief Col. Redrico Maranan said the police would be enforcing the laws and ordinances by local government units against vaping and smoking, according to PhilStar Global.
“Yes, we will (also apprehend students vaping and smoking.) Our local ordinances will be enforced by the police, as ordered by our chief PNP (Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr.),” Maranan said, according to media reports.
He explained that the ordinances would be a big help in ensuring discipline among the people.
“These local ordinances will ensure that discipline and the obedience of the people will return. So, that is part of the things that will be enforced by the police in communities,” he said.
He also underscored the Oplan Bisita Eskwela of the PNP, which requires police officers to go to communities and patrol schools.
“The police should go to schools and connect with principals, teachers and students,” Maranan said.
“There are crimes in schools, whether connected to fraternities and rumbles. Our police should be there in schools and coordinate with our school officials,” he added.
May 1, 2023
Philippines Government to End Illegal Online Sales

Image: Tobacco Reporter archive
The Philippines government is set to remove 15,000 more noncompliant electronic cigarette sellers in online marketplaces, reports The Philippine Star.
“We have monitored almost 15,000 sellers online,” said Ruth Castelo, trade undersecretary. “We’ve advised platforms to remove almost 15,000 we observed that were noncompliant. These sellers all have cases already.”
Unregistered vapor products are subject to the Vape Law, which came into effect Dec. 28, 2022, and prohibits flavors, colorful caricatures on packaging and selling products within 100 meters of schools, among other restrictions.
“If online platforms would just strictly follow, there is no need to remove the sale of this product from them,” said Castelo. “It’s already indicated which products they can’t sell, but some still evade detection.”
April 28, 2023
Philippines Leaders Urged to Ban Vaping ‘Eventually’

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The government in the Philippines is being urged to raise the minimum age of people allowed to use vaping products to 25, ban flavored products, online sales, and “eventually” e-cigarettes entirely.
Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance Executive Director Ulysses Dorotheo said also wants the introduction of “standardized packaging” on vaping products – removing colors, scents, and indications of flavors in a proposal issued to lawmakers during a Senate committee hearing on sustainable development goals, innovation, and future thinking on Friday.
“To raise the minimum age to 25 which is the cut-off for adolescent brain development so as to reduce the risk of nicotine addiction,” he said, reports the Inquirer.
Individuals as young as 18 years old may legally smoke vaping products in the Philippines.
The country’s Food and Drug Administration backed the suggestion of Dorotheo.
Restricting the sales of vaping products online is likewise pushed by Dorothero, noting it “is where our youth spend much of their time.”
Further, Dorotheo sought to increase the excise taxes on vaping products, pointing out that a lower tax rate is levied on such items compared to tobacco products.
Dorotheo eventually emphasized that the “long-term ideal outcome” is to ban vaping products.
The Philippine Tobacco Industry (PTI) recently called on the Philippines’ Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to crack down on illicit vapor products.
February 11, 2023
Philippines: Group Wants Crackdown on Illegal Vapes

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The Philippine Tobacco Industry (PTI) has called on the Philippines’ Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to crack down on illicit vapor products, reports The Manilla Times.
In a letter sent recently to BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr., the group emphasized that the full implementation of the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act “will ensure that the public is protected against the dangers of using illicit products as well as the collection of appropriate taxes aimed at helping our economy.”
The Act, which became law in July 2022, regulates the importation, manufacture, sale, packaging, distribution, use and communication of vaping products such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
Under the laws implementing rules and regulations (IRR), e-commerce platforms, e-marketplaces and other similar online platforms are mandated to allow only Department of Trade and Industry and BIR-registered distributors, merchants or retailers of vape products, devices and novel tobacco products to sell on their website or platform.
To ensure vape products are made inaccessible to minors, the IRR also requires vapor product refill receptacles to be tamper- and child-resistant. Products packaged or labeled with flavor descriptors appealing to minors are prohibited.
“We are also hoping that the BIR will closely work with enforcement agencies such as the Philippine National Police, The Armed Forces of the Philippines as well as relevant anti-illicit trade groups from the Bureau of Customs to make sure the law and its IRR are effectively implemented,” the PTI said.
The PTI members include Japan Tobacco International Philippines, Associated Anglo-American Tobacco Corp. and Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Co.
January 20, 2023
Philippine Vape Sellers Must Register at Tax Bureau

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The Philippine Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has requested that vape merchants register their businesses to avoid serious consequences in the future, reports the Manila Bulletin.
Criminal tax evasion charges will be filed against merchants that do not comply with revenue regulations, according to BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. Tax evasion charges were previously brought against five major importers and distributors of vapor products, totaling over PHP1 billion ($18.2 million).
Under the law, first-time offenders face a fine of PHP2 million and up to two years in jail. Second-time offenders face a fine of PHP4 million and up to four years in jail. Third-time offenders face a fine of PHP5 million and up to six years in jail. Foreign nationals caught breaking the law would face immediate deportation after serving the appropriate jail term.
In October, The Philippines Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) began consulting the public for the crafting of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the country’s new vape laws.
January 12, 2023
Philip Morris International Launches Bonds by IQOS

Photo: Tobias Arhelger
Philip Morris International has launched its latest heat-not-burn tobacco-heating system, Bonds by IQOS, along with its compatible tobacco sticks, Blends, in a pilot market in the Philippines. The company intends to further commercialize the product during the remainder of 2022 and next year.
Equipped with bladeless resistive external heating technology, Bond emits 95 percent less harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes, according to PMI.
“Bonds by IQOS represents another step forward in our ambition to replace cigarettes with innovative, science-based, smoke-free alternatives,” said PMI CEO Jacek Olczak in a statement.
“We know that no single smoke-free product will appeal to all adult smokers. Providing a range of alternatives to continued smoking—with a variety of taste, technology, usage and price options—is imperative and helps us to address a range of preferences as diverse as adult smokers themselves—ultimately encouraging them to leave cigarettes behind.
“Bonds by IQOS provides an opportunity to address consumer acquisition barriers for this segment, most notably up-front device costs and authentic tobacco taste satisfaction—providing further options of innovative smoke-free options to help ensure they do not go back to cigarettes. Through continuous innovation, we want to ensure that all adult smokers who would otherwise continue smoking switch and abandon cigarettes.”
According to PMI, Bonds by IQOS is designed to be used only with Blends tobacco sticks to deliver a variety of tobacco tastes. At the time of launch, Blends tobacco sticks will be available in five different flavors, including classic, menthol and aromatic. When fully charged, Bonds by IQOS delivers up to 20 uses, including three consecutive experiences. Bonds by IQOS comes in four different colors.
November 22, 2022
Minimum Market Prices Set for Vapes in Philippines
The Philippine Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has set a floor price for heated, vapor and other electronic nicotine-delivery systems (ENDS), reports ABS-CBN News.
The floor price for a 0.7 ml pod of nicotine is PHP131.04 ($2.29). For 1.8 ml and 1.9 ml nicotine salts, the minimum prices are PHP306.88 and PHP318.08, respectively.
Meanwhile, the floor price for a 15-ml bottle of conventional freebase nicotine is PHP207.2. A bottle that contains 30 ml of classic nicotine has a PHP352.8 minimum price.
According to BIR East NCR director Edgar Tolentino, the new guidelines will help the economy and protect the health of minors.
“BIR will have exclusive jurisdiction over taxpayer registration, setting the products’ floor price, drafting and publication of revenue regulations covering vape items,” Tolentino said.
He also said the newly appointed BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. has a mandate to crack down on illicit vape traders.
“We need to support the plans of the commissioner; one thing is to focus on illegal vape sellers because if smuggling persists we will be losing huge revenues from vape products,” he said.
Since 2019, the government has collected about PHP15.3 billion in vape taxes.
November 18, 2022
Philippines Begins Consultation on New Vape Law

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The Philippines Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will begin consulting the public for the crafting of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the country’s new vape law today, reports ABS-CBN News
“For private stakeholders who have an interest on the crafting of the IRR, they are included, and we will consider all inputs or all comments that were sent,” said DTI Undersecretary Ruth Castelo.
The Philippines’ Vaporized Nicotine Products Regulation Act governs the importation, manufacture, sale, distribution and use of vape products. Among other measures, it calls for lowering the vaping age to 18 from 21.
The DTI was tasked to craft the IRR, following the transfer of the regulation of vapes from Food and Drug Administration.
The proposal was submitted to the Presidential Palace on June 24, days before then-President Rodrigo Duterte stepped down from office. Because the executive branch did not act on it within 30 days, the proposed legislation lapsed into law in July.
October 24, 2022