The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) issued an order Friday suspending the sale of vape products, including devices and e-liquids, on all online platforms across the Philippines.
DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual said the government intends to address the growing concerns about the accessibility of vape products to minors and ensure that the government receives its rightful share of tax revenue from the sales.
“There are many requirements for e-market platforms. We want to make it clear that e-market platforms must adhere to strict regulations before allowing vape sellers to utilize their platforms. We want them to show us they are compliant,” Pascual said, underscoring the importance of robust age verification measures.
The DTI’s primary concern lies in the difficulty of verifying the age of online buyers, making it imperative to establish effective mechanisms to prevent minors from purchasing vape products, he said.
“The sale of regulated products is prohibited in online platforms unless they provide us [with a] copy of their registration, licenses and permits, and they have a contract with the operator of the e-marketplace and online merchant regarding the selling restrictions, conditions when selling vape,” said DTI assistant secretary for consumer protection group (CPG) Amanda Nograles.
She said e-commerce platforms, e-marketplaces and social media platforms where individual transactions take place should have an effective age-gating measure.
She said the click-through box is not an effective tool to confirm a client’s age, and more stringent measures should be implemented to prevent minors from accessing these products.
The DTI’s directive extends to all online platforms, including popular e-commerce sites, social media marketplaces and individual transactions conducted on platforms like Meta, Instagram and TikTok Shop.
Pascual said the agency aimed to create a level playing field where all online sellers are held to the same high standards of compliance.
The DTI is catching up with a growing global trend to regulate the online sale of vape products. Countries like Singapore have taken the step of completely banning online vape sales due to concerns about youth access and health risks.
Pascual said while some online platforms expressed willingness to cooperate with the DTI and develop effective age verification systems, others, like Food Panda, continue to sell vapes under their non-food category.
The DTI said the non-compliance with the order could result in the closure of online shops, depending on the severity of the violation.
