DTI Lifts Trade Ban on AEROGIN and RELX, FLARE and Others Still Need PS Certification

Nov.26.2024

DTI Lifts Trade Ban on AEROGIN and RELX, FLARE and Others Still Need PS Certification

The Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has lifted the trade ban on AEROGIN and RELX, while products from brands like FLARE, NIXX, and VAPENGIN still require Philippine Standards (PS) certification before they can be sold.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has officially lifted the suspension on the sale of vape products produced by AEROGIN and RELX.

At the same time, the DTI has removed the Preliminary Order/Preventive Measure Order against FLARE, NIXX, and VAPENGIN products. However, the sale of these products will remain prohibited until they secure the necessary Philippine Standard (PS) certification.

DTI emphasizes its commitment to ensuring the safety and quality of vape products in the Philippine market through strict enforcement of regulatory standards. Under Republic Act No. 11900 (RA11900), also known as the "Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act," and related regulations, the Office for the Special Mandate on Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products (OSMV) has the authority to take immediate action, including the recall, restriction, or confiscation of non-compliant vape products, devices, or novel tobacco products, following due process.

References:

[1] DTI lifts suspension of vape brands

Also Read:

[1] DTI suspends sales of 11 e-cigarette brands in the Philippines

[2] DTI Initiates Legal Action Against Four E-Cigarette Brands Including RELX, Flare

[3] DTI Suspends Sales of 5 E-cigarette Brands in Philippines, Including LOST MARY, Chillax, SHFTDr.Freeze, Aerogin, Don Bars, Black Elite

[4] Philippine Customs Seizes $33.8k Worth of E-Cigarettes in Warehouses

#Legislation #Asia #Open system e-cigarettes #Philippines

China Tobacco Regulation Shift：Policy Updates and Market Impact

China Tobacco Regulation Shift：Policy Updates and Market Impact

Product | BAT Revises Japan's VELO Convenience Store Lineup, Adding ¥380 Mango Pouches as Selected SKUs Exit

Product | BAT Revises Japan's VELO Convenience Store Lineup, Adding ¥380 Mango Pouches as Selected SKUs Exit

British American Tobacco's Japanese subsidiary, BAT Japan, launched VELO Mango Ice Medium on November 2, 2026, with distribution expanding to selected 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, NewDays and Seicomart stores from November 3. The new oral tobacco product contains 15 pouches per can and retails for ¥380, featuring a mango and cooling flavor profile at Medium intensity. At the same time, BAT Japan raised prices on multiple existing VELO products from ¥360 to ¥380 per can and withdrew selected SKUs from convenience store distribution without discontinuing them entirely. The changes affect product assortment, pricing and retail channel allocation.

Imperial Brands Acquires Helwit Owner Yoik Group for SEK 515 Million, More Than Doubling Swedish Nicotine Pouch Share

Imperial Brands Acquires Helwit Owner Yoik Group for SEK 515 Million, More Than Doubling Swedish Nicotine Pouch Share

Imperial Brands has agreed to acquire 100% of Swedish modern oral nicotine company Yoik Group AB for an initial SEK515 million, equivalent to about US$53.9 million, plus a deferred payment linked to performance over the next two years. Yoik owns nicotine pouch brand Helwit, which held about 3.4% of Sweden’s modern oral nicotine market over the past 12 months. Imperial says the acquisition will more than double its existing share of the Swedish market. Helwit is also sold elsewhere in the Nordics, through European online channels and in selected UK retail outlets.

As Regulators Focus on Nicotine Pouch Child Safety, Safeguard Pursues an External Packaging Route

As Regulators Focus on Nicotine Pouch Child Safety, Safeguard Pursues an External Packaging Route

As regulators pay closer attention to child safety in nicotine pouches, manufacturers face a practical challenge: how to strengthen child-resistant packaging without unnecessarily reworking products, production lines and regulatory submissions already in place. In a written interview with 2Firsts, Chemular detailed Safeguard’s external packaging approach, its customer-specific testing requirements and possible PMTA pathways. The model remains early-stage, but it offers a new way to think about an increasingly important regulatory and manufacturing issue.

Industry Insight

German Bundestag Passes Tobacco Tax Hikes: Vape Liquid Duty to Reach €0.44/ml, Heated Tobacco Taxes to Rise and Cigarettes Seen Near €12 a Pack

German Bundestag Passes Tobacco Tax Hikes: Vape Liquid Duty to Reach €0.44/ml, Heated Tobacco Taxes to Rise and Cigarettes Seen Near €12 a Pack

Germany's Bundestag passed amendments to the Tobacco Tax Act on October 15, 2026, setting out annual excise tax increases from 2027 through 2030 for e-cigarette liquids, heated tobacco, cigarettes and other tobacco products. Under the Finance Committee's amended bill, duty on qualifying e-liquids will rise from €0.32/ml in 2026 to €0.44/ml in 2030, an increase of 37.5%. Heated tobacco will retain its tax calculation based on 80% of the corresponding cigarette excise duty. The average price of a 20-cigarette pack is projected to approach €12 by 2030, with some brands potentially reaching €14. The legislation is projected to generate approximately €11.8 billion in additional tax revenue over four years and remains subject to further legislative procedures.

Sweden Threatens EU Tobacco Tax Deal as Nicotine Pouch Duty Dispute Looms Over November 9 Meeting

Sweden Threatens EU Tobacco Tax Deal as Nicotine Pouch Duty Dispute Looms Over November 9 Meeting

Sweden is expected to oppose a European Union proposal to raise minimum tobacco excise duties, Law360 reported on October 26, 2026, citing an EU official. A provisional Council agenda dated October 23 confirms that the tobacco taxation package is scheduled for discussion at the November 9 finance ministers' meeting, where member states will seek a general approach. The proposed reforms would raise minimum taxes on conventional tobacco products and establish EU-wide excise rules for vaping liquids, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches. Sweden supports harmonising tobacco taxation rules but objects to requiring nicotine pouches to bear the same minimum tax burden as certain smoking tobacco products. As EU indirect tax legislation requires unanimous Council approval, Swedish opposition could block the proposal in its current form.

Philippines Mandates Safety Certification for Nicotine Pouches, Gives Industry 12 Months to Comply

Philippines Mandates Safety Certification for Nicotine Pouches, Gives Industry 12 Months to Comply

The Philippines Department of Trade and Industry has placed nicotine pouches under mandatory product certification through Department Administrative Order No. 26-07, Series of 2026. Nicotine pouches must obtain a Philippine Standard, or PS, license before they can be manufactured, imported, packed, distributed or sold in the country. The regime requires testing for nicotine content, pH and water activity, while packaging must disclose nicotine strength, ingredients, allergens, batch information, the PS certification mark and prescribed health warnings. Existing market participants have a 12-month transition period to comply.

Related Topics

News Regulation

Related Read

Product | BAT Revises Japan's VELO Convenience Store Lineup, Adding ¥380 Mango Pouches as Selected SKUs Exit

Product | BAT Revises Japan's VELO Convenience Store Lineup, Adding ¥380 Mango Pouches as Selected SKUs Exit

Imperial Brands Acquires Helwit Owner Yoik Group for SEK 515 Million, More Than Doubling Swedish Nicotine Pouch Share

Imperial Brands Acquires Helwit Owner Yoik Group for SEK 515 Million, More Than Doubling Swedish Nicotine Pouch Share

As Regulators Focus on Nicotine Pouch Child Safety, Safeguard Pursues an External Packaging Route

As Regulators Focus on Nicotine Pouch Child Safety, Safeguard Pursues an External Packaging Route

German Bundestag Passes Tobacco Tax Hikes: Vape Liquid Duty to Reach €0.44/ml, Heated Tobacco Taxes to Rise and Cigarettes Seen Near €12 a Pack

German Bundestag Passes Tobacco Tax Hikes: Vape Liquid Duty to Reach €0.44/ml, Heated Tobacco Taxes to Rise and Cigarettes Seen Near €12 a Pack

Sweden Threatens EU Tobacco Tax Deal as Nicotine Pouch Duty Dispute Looms Over November 9 Meeting

Sweden Threatens EU Tobacco Tax Deal as Nicotine Pouch Duty Dispute Looms Over November 9 Meeting

Philippines Mandates Safety Certification for Nicotine Pouches, Gives Industry 12 Months to Comply

Philippines Mandates Safety Certification for Nicotine Pouches, Gives Industry 12 Months to Comply