Controversy Surrounds Proposed E-Cigarette Law in the Philippines

A bill regulating the use of both nicotine and non-nicotine vaping products is currently being proposed in the Philippines, with the president allowing the bill to take effect on 25 July. While the bill is expected to bring more revenue for the tobacco industry as it expands its market base, it is seen as potentially harmful to health as it lowers the age requirement for the purchase, use, and sale of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products from 21 to 18 years old, and removes restrictions on the two flavors of e-liquid.

The Ministry of Health, State Administration for Market Regulation of the People's Republic of China, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Finance, along with dozens of medical associations and former health ministers, strongly oppose the proposed legislation on electronic cigarettes. They believe that this would expose the country's youth to the harmful effects of electronic cigarettes. Former Health Minister Francisco Duque III rejected the notion that electronic cigarettes are a good substitute for traditional cigarettes. He claims that electronic cigarettes encourage people to develop more bad habits, such as alcohol and drug abuse.

The Philippines is among the countries with the highest smoking rates for both adults and teenagers around the world. According to a global survey on tobacco use in 2015, almost 23.8% of Filipino adults use some form of tobacco, with 22.7% of them being smokers and 18.7% smoking on a daily basis.

Approximately 117,000 people die each year in the country due to tobacco-related illnesses such as lung cancer and cardiovascular disease. It is estimated that the cost of treating the four main diseases caused by tobacco use in the Philippines each year is 44.6 billion pesos (approximately 800 million US dollars).

Child Rights Network and other tobacco control advocates see the e-cigarette bill as a victory for the "moneyed tobacco industry.

The public interest legal organization ImagineLaw has stated that allowing the bill to become law after Marcos promised to rebuild the country better would be "a betrayal of public health" and a "regrettable development.

If the president does not take action on a legislative measure within 30 days of receiving it, the measure will be deemed ineffective. During the previous session of Congress, the House of Representatives retained the e-cigarette bill for five months and on June 24th sent registered copies to Malacañang, just six days before President Rodrigo Duterte's term ends.

Health experts and tobacco control advocates are urging for the rejection of this bill because its provisions contradict public health objectives and international standards, especially following the Supreme Court's ruling in late June that upheld the FDA's regulatory authority over tobacco products and reaffirmed the country's commitment to it.

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