Philippines Moves to Ban Open-System Vape Cartridges and Uncertified E-Liquids, Removes Several Devices from Compliance List

Key points

• The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the Philippines is considering a nationwide ban on open pod systems and unregistered e-liquids, covering all aspects of production, importation, distribution, and retail. 
• They have removed open pod systems from the list of permitted products to ensure that only compliant e-cigarette products enter the market and retail networks.
•  This decision comes after the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported the detection of synthetic cannabinoids, shifting regulatory focus towards ingredient risks and protection of youth through evidence-based enforcement. 
• The DTI is planning to issue a regulatory ban in accordance with RA 11900, establishing a standardized list of permits and reporting channels.

 2Firsts,on October 20, 2025——According to an announcement on the official website of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the Philippines the DTI is intensifying efforts to regulate the production, importation, distribution, and sale of vape open pods and uncertified e-liquids. The goal of these measures is to reduce consumer safety and health risks.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has removed a specific model of open system pod from the scope of the Philippine Standard (PS) certification to ensure that only products that meet the specified standards can be sold to the public.

At the same time, e-cigarette company Phantom Vape Group, Inc. has voluntarily reduced the coverage of its PS Certificate No. Q-00002, excluding open-system models under the VAGEND brand such as the VPRIME Device, XLIM PRO 2 Device, NEXLIM Device, XLIM GO Device, and XLIM SQ PRO 2 Device. This means that the mentioned products are no longer authorized for production, import, distribution, or retail within the Philippines.

According to reports, DTI's move also responds to concerns in society about e-cigarette products suspected of containing synthetic cannabinoids. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) recently detected synthetic chemical substances in "Tuklaw" tobacco that can mimic the effects of marijuana, prompting regulatory alerts.

The Office for the Special Mandate on Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products, their Devices, and Novel Tobacco Products, a subordinate agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), is finalizing regulatory documents to institutionalize the nationwide ban on open-pod systems and uncertified e-liquids.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) emphasizes that it will continue to fulfill its consumer protection responsibilities in accordance with the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act (RA 11900), on the regulation of nicotine and non-nicotine products. The DTI will also regularly update the list of permit holders for public safety, which will benefit both industry stakeholders and the general public in accessing information.

After 2Firrsts conducting research, it was found that the recently popular "Tuklaw" tobacco in the Philippines originates from the mountainous regions of Vietnam, with extremely high nicotine content and often containing synthetic cannabinoids. As a result, Philippine regulatory authorities have issued a warning that this product may lead to serious health risks such as epileptic seizures and hallucinations.

Image source: Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) of the Philippines.