DTI Cracks Down on Illegal E-Cigarette Shops in Philippines

On May 5th, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the Philippines forcibly shut down two shops selling electronic cigarettes in Balanga City. These shops were found to be in violation of the country's regulations on e-cigarettes, including operating without a license and opening their shops in locations not compliant with distance requirements.

Conducting offline law enforcement operations.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has confiscated 205 electronic cigarette products worth a total of 63,340 Philippine pesos due to their violation of the Philippine's "Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Product Regulation Act.

The law prohibits retailers from selling electronic cigarettes with packaging, labeling, displays, or proof that could be attractive to minors.

This law enforcement operation was jointly led by the Deputy Minister of the Department of Trade and Industry, Ruth Castelo, and the Mayor of Valenzuela City, Wes Gatchalian.

During the inspection process, at least two electronic cigarette stores were ordered to shut down due to lack of business licenses and being too close to schools, only one electronic cigarette store complied with legal requirements.

According to Philippine law, the sale, advertising, and display of electronic cigarettes or new tobacco products are prohibited within a 100-meter radius of schools, recreational areas, or other places where minors frequent.

Call for e-commerce platforms to comply with the law.

Apart from physical electronic cigarette shops, the DTI has urged e-commerce platforms to comply with regulations regarding electronic cigarette products. The DTI has also recommended that e-commerce platforms remove more than 15,000 non-compliant electronic cigarette merchants.

Castro stated, "We urge online marketplaces to supervise their sellers and ensure that products have age verification mechanisms and sales labeling. Additionally, all listed products should have legally mandated health warning labels.

Further reading:

The Philippine e-commerce platform Lazada has been asked to remove illegal electronic cigarette products.

2. The Philippines may include tobacco in its anti-smuggling bill. 3. The Department of Trade and Industry in the Philippines plans to crack down on online platforms selling illegal e-cigarettes.

The Philippine government has recommended e-commerce platforms to remove non-compliant electronic cigarette merchants. About 15,000 sellers have already been monitored.

References:

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is persistently pursuing a crackdown on vape shops that fail to comply with regulations.