The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) cracks down on nearly 61,000 out of the 66,000 online vape stores monitored as of January 2024 for marketing such products that unduly appeal to minors.
The drive was part of DTI’s intensified monitoring and enforcement operations against violators of Republic Act No. 11900 or the “Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act.
The DTI targeted retailers that allegedly sell their regulated products to minors.
Thus far, it has issued notices of violations (NOVs) and show cause orders (SCOs) to 269 physical stores and thousands more online over their failure to verify the age of their buyers.
These include vape products that were either packaged, labelled, presented, or marketed with flavor descriptors.
“The DTI also flagged violators who used cartoons, anime, manga, animated characters, youth influencers, and personalities. More than 200 formal charges have been filed with the DTI, and administrative fines have been imposed on decided cases,” the agency said.
Through these efforts, the DTI seized over 18,000 vape products from non-compliant stores valued at approximately 5.5 million pesos.
The agency has been taking these actions while waiting for the mandatory certification and registration of vape products by June 5, 2024, and enforcement of product standards and registration by 2025.
Currently, the DTI fully utilizes the transition period for its nationwide efforts and campaign to ensure that manufacturers, distributors, importers, and retailers are well-educated on RA 11900 and its IRR.
The DTI continues to coordinate and extend full support to the Department of Health, Food and Drug Administration, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education, Local Government Units, and the Bureau of Customs in ensuring that all laws on vape products are fully and strictly implemented.
“We are working double time on our enforcement operations to prevent the sale of vape to minors – that is our duty. Also, we will continue to work with our partner agencies and stakeholders to ensure that violators of RA 11900 and its IRR are penalized accordingly,” said DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual.
The DTI urges consumers to report violators through the Consumer Care Hotline at DTI (1-384) or consumercare@dti.gov.ph.
Nine former secretaries and undersecretaries of the Department of Health (DOH) have called on the Philippine delegation to the 10th Session of the Conference of Parties (COP10) of the World Health Organization (WHO) – Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) to take the lead in pushing for a tougher fight against vapes and electronic cigarettes.
In a joint statement, the ex-health officials said it is imperative for the Philippines to actively move for stronger policies that will prevent the uptake of all recreational tobacco and nicotine products, including e-cigarettes and vapes.
The former DOH secretaries include Jaime Galvez Tan (1995), Carmencita Reodica (1996-1998), Manuel Dayrit (2001-2005), Esperanza Cabral (2010), Paulyn Rosell Ubial (2016-2017), and Francisco Duque III (2005-2009 and 2017-2022).
“The Philippine delegation should speak, rather than hide, whitewash, or disguise the truth of the serious threat to public health brought about by weak Philippine regulation on e-cigarettes,” they said.
“Doing so will convince other State Parties to adopt and support robust regulations on e-cigarettes. It will also send a strong message to the global community that we are not relinquishing our leadership in working with other State Parties in protecting health policies from the bullying tactics of the tobacco industry,” they added.
