vape

Online marketing for e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products (HTPs) in the Philippines continues to mirror strategies known to attract teenagers, according to new research released by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Institute for Global Tobacco Control (IGTC).

The DTI’s action follows reports of vape products allegedly containing synthetic cannabinoids — chemicals that mimic cannabis — recently found in “Tuklaw” cigarettes identified by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

At the same time, the DTI issued a public advisory warning against the sale of counterfeit “Black Ultra” vape products, which it said are unauthorized, uncertified, and not connected to any legitimate manufacturer.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) secretary Fred Pascual signed on Friday, July 20, an order suspending the online sale of vapor products on marketplaces, effective immediately.

Among the confiscated brands were 2,428 units of RELX worth P534,190, and 158 units of Waka by RELX worth P35,440. In March 2024, the DTI suspended the sale and distribution of the vape brand Flava due to repeated violations of RA 11900.

By June 2024, the product registration and other related provisions of RA 11900 or the Vape Law will take effect. All importation and manufacturing of vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products and novel tobacco products shall be required to undergo the DTI mandatory certification process prior to market distribution.

The DTI’s Online Monitoring Unit (OMU) has also intensified its online monitoring initiatives, with 93 online stores found to be compliant while 17,735 were non-compliant.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it has seized 9,695 units of uncertified vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products, and novel tobacco products worth P2,988,473 during its enforcement initiatives in NCR from Feb. 9 to April 26.

Shopee Philippines is the first to comply by removing over one million prohibited vape listings from its platform.

In a privilege speech delivered on Monday, Feb. 6, Sen. Pia Cayetano expressed alarm over the “attractive” designs and flavors of e-cigarette and vape products targeting the youth as the primary market.