Self-regulation, adherence to high manufacturing standards and quality of imported products are key factors in the success of the e-cigarette industry in the Philippines, representatives of the Philippine vaping community told their counterparts in New Delhi, India.
Edward Gatchalian, president of Philippine E-liquids Manufacturers Association, shared the Philippine experience during a business-to-business meeting of manufacturers of e-cigarettes, liquids, equipment, battery and accessories on September 9. He stressed the need to raise public awareness of the issues and work with government to secure reasonable regulation.
PEMA is an active member of the umbrella Philippine E-cigarette Industry Association.
“Elevating the level of discourse on e-cigarettes by presenting scientific evidence from independent studies and experts is crucial to our survival. We believe that disseminating accurate and scientifically vetted evidence is the only answer to the lies, fear mongering and propaganda churned out by groups opposed to e-cigarettes,” Gatchalian said.
“Policymakers, public health experts and the general public, particularly smokers, need to know about the growing body of scientific evidence showing e-cigarettes are overwhelmingly less harmful than conventional cigarettes and can help smokers quit,” he said.
Gatchalian said smokers must have the option to choose products that are potentially less harmful and government regulation should be able to encourage it.
An expert independent evidence review by Public Health England concluded that e-cigarettes are around 95 percent less harmful than smoking and that e-cigarettes may be contributing to falling smoking rates among adults and young people in the UK.