The New Vois Association of the Philippines on Sunday urged the Department of Health and the Food and Drug Administration to immediately start regulating the production and sale of electronic cigarettes in the country.
NVAP president Emer Rojas said it is high time for the DoH and the FDA to put restrictions on e-cigs, which has become a popular alternative to traditional cigarettes.
“Putting its foot down on e-cigarettes is imperative for the DoH and FDA with more and more studies showing its adverse effects on one’s health,” Rojas said.
The NVAP official who is also an active cancer ambassador warned that the government cannot just sit idly while more Filipinos use e-cigarettes, thus still getting addicted to nicotine.
He cited a new University of California study which showed that teenagers who smoke e-cigarettes are more likely to eventually move on to regular cigarettes.
“Such studies simply show that e-cigarettes are actually encouraging, instead of discouraging, the youth to smoke and to consume nicotine,” said Rojas.
“The current global trend is to really get rid of nicotine addiction by curbing tobacco use. And some countries are actually finding success in it. But with the emergence of e-cigarette’s popularity, our fight may actually be neutralized,” he added.
The battery-operated devices are designed to resemble traditional tobacco cigarettes and deliver nicotine with flavorings and other chemicals in vapor form.
The wide range of flavors, such as bubblegum and blueberry, make e-cigarettes extremely appealing to young people.
The FDA already issued an advisory in 2013 discouraging the public from using e-cigarettes.