The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in the Philippines has updated the minimum prices for cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and electronic cigarettes.
Jethro Sabariaga, assistant coordinator at BIR, stated that the increase in the minimum price of cigarettes is due to some sellers selling cigarettes at a price below the production cost and consumption tax. However, such behavior is against national regulations and undermines market competition.
Sabariaja stated that the minimum retail price set by BIR encompasses consumption tax, value-added tax, and production costs. The higher prices also serve as a warning to the public, reminding them of the potential harm of illegal tobacco products to their health.
The minimum price for a pack of cigarettes has been increased from 82.49 Philippine pesos (approximately 10.3 yuan) to 114.60 Philippine pesos (approximately 14.3 yuan). The minimum price for heated tobacco products (sticks) has been reduced from 140 Philippine pesos (approximately 17.4 yuan) to 120.40 Philippine pesos (approximately 15 yuan); the minimum price for a 2ml pod is 200 Philippine pesos (approximately 25 yuan); the minimum price for a 10ml bottle of nicotine e-liquid is 179.20 Philippine pesos (approximately 22.4 yuan); and the price for a 30ml bottle of nicotine e-liquid has been increased from 352.80 Philippine pesos (approximately 43.8 yuan) to 403.20 Philippine pesos (approximately 50 yuan). The BIR emphasizes that it is illegal to sell tobacco products below the prescribed consumption tax and value-added tax, and violators may face fines of up to 500,000 Philippine pesos and imprisonment for up to 6 years.
Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) seized nearly 3 million Philippine pesos worth of uncertified electronic cigarette products in the Metro Manila region from February to April. The DTI stated that it has been intensifying its monitoring of non-compliant shops selling electronic cigarette products.
Reference:
The Bureau of Internal Revenue has made changes to the minimum prices that must be charged for both cigarettes and vape products.
Disclaimer
This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.
Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.
The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.
This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.
Copyright Notice
This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.
No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.
For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.
AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice
Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.
Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.
