Home
Company
Product
Regulation
China
Data
Exhibition
Interview
中文版
Home
Company
Product
Regulation
China
Data
Exhibition
Interview
中文版
Search

Philippines BIR seizes over 500 illegal e-cigarette retailers with $3.09 million in tax liabilities

Nov.06.2024
Philippines BIR seizes over 500 illegal e-cigarette retailers with $3.09 million in tax liabilities
As of October 2024, the Philippines Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has seized 506 illegal e-cigarette retailers and distributors, with tax liabilities totaling $3.09 million. These businesses often violate laws due to unpaid excise taxes, missing tax stamps, and lack of registration.

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said that as of October this year, the BIR has arrested a total of 506 illegal e-cigarette retailers and distributors, according to the Philippine News Agency (PNA) website.

 

The Commissioner stated that common illegal activities among e-cigarette retailers and distributors include non-payment of value-added tax, lack of internal revenue stamps, and failure to register with the tax bureau, resulting in a total tax liability of 181.69 million Philippine pesos (3.09 million US dollars).

 

As of the end of October 2024, the BIR has seized 506 illegal e-cigarette retailers and distributors in our raid operations. The number of illegal e-cigarette shops has significantly increased since our nationwide raid on October 16th last year.

 

References:
[1] BIR catches 506 illicit vape resellers as of end October
Also Read:
[1] DTI suspends sales of 11 e-cigarette brands in the Philippines
[2] Philippines Bureau of Internal Revenue to intensify crackdown on illegal e-cigarette products
[3] Philippine Bureau of Internal Revenue struggles with declining tobacco revenue.
[4] Philippines BIR Launches Nationwide Raid on Illegal E-Cigarette Sellers
[5] Philippine Customs intercepts illegal shipment of marijuana e-cigarettes
[6] Philippine Bureau of Internal Revenue Raises Tobacco Prices Mandate
[7] Philippine Customs Seizes $120M Worth of Smuggled e-Cigarettes
[8] Revised Regulations on Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Vaping Products
[9] Massive Smuggling Bust by Philippine Customs Authorities in Manila
[10] DTI Suspends Sales of 5 E-cigarette Brands in Philippines, Including LOST MARY, Chillax, SHFTDr.Freeze, Aerogin, Don Bars, Black Elite
[11] New Guidelines for Handling Seized Goods by Philippines Tax Bureau
#Law enforcement#Asia#Open system e-cigarettes#Philippines

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn

Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

China Tobacco Regulation Shift：Policy Updates and Market Impact
China Tobacco Regulation Shift：Policy Updates and Market Impact
Seita’s Julia Neumaier Says France Should Target Vape Access, Not Plain Packaging
Seita’s Julia Neumaier Says France Should Target Vape Access, Not Plain Packaging
Julia Neumaier, general manager of Seita, Imperial Brands’ French subsidiary, said France should focus vaping regulation on access control, age verification, online sales and distribution channels, rather than applying tobacco-style plain packaging to vaping products.
Jul.15
2Firsts Data | China’s Vape Exports Rise 3.1% in H1 2026 as 6-Methyl Nicotine-Related Products Surge 65.2%
2Firsts Data | China’s Vape Exports Rise 3.1% in H1 2026 as 6-Methyl Nicotine-Related Products Surge 65.2%
China’s vape exports showed resilience in the first half of 2026 after a short-term shock from China’s export rebate adjustment. But customs data points to more than a simple recovery: the structure of growth is changing. Vaping devices and atomization hardware emerged as the strongest growth driver, while nicotine-containing vaping products remained broadly stable. Meanwhile, nicotine substitute-related products represented by 6-methyl nicotine expanded rapidly, becoming a new category to watch for both industry and regulators. After the U.S. market went through a cycle of shortages, replenishment and inventory rebuilding in 2025, China’s vape supply chain is entering a new phase of reallocation.
Special Report
Jul.20
BofA Upgrades Imperial Brands, Says Market Overreacted to Australia Slump
BofA Upgrades Imperial Brands, Says Market Overreacted to Australia Slump
Bank of America upgraded Imperial Brands to “buy” from “neutral,” saying investors have overreacted to the tobacco group’s Australian business downturn and that the share-price pullback has created a more attractive entry point.
Jul.16
Putin Signs Russia’s Tobacco and Nicotine Product Licensing Law, Banning Unlicensed Sales From 2027
Putin Signs Russia’s Tobacco and Nicotine Product Licensing Law, Banning Unlicensed Sales From 2027
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law introducing mandatory licensing for wholesale and retail trade in tobacco and nicotine-containing products, with the system taking effect on October 1, 2026, and unlicensed operations banned from March 1, 2027, while vape and e-liquid retail may also face uncertainty from temporary regional sales-ban powers.
Jul.01
UK HMRC Plans 30,000 Retail Enforcement Actions as Illegal Tobacco and Vape Sellers Face Tougher Crackdown
UK HMRC Plans 30,000 Retail Enforcement Actions as Illegal Tobacco and Vape Sellers Face Tougher Crackdown
The UK government has announced that HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will carry out more than 30,000 interventions targeting businesses and retail premises during the 2026-2027 financial year. The actions will focus on tax fraud, illegal goods sales and businesses involved in unlawful activities through retail channels. The government said illegal tobacco and illegal vape sales remain areas of concern. The move shows that UK enforcement against illegal nicotine products is expanding from import and supply channels toward retail-level oversight, alongside the upcoming introduction of the Vaping Products Duty.
Jul.24
UK Vape Brands Face White-Packaging and Flavour-Name Curbs in Youth-Appeal Crackdown
UK Vape Brands Face White-Packaging and Flavour-Name Curbs in Youth-Appeal Crackdown
The UK government and devolved administrations have launched a 12-week consultation on proposals to make vapes less appealing to children, including plain white packaging, limits on device colours, restrictions on flavour names and changes to how products are displayed in shops.
Jul.10
Related Topics
HEADLINE News
Related Read
Seita’s Julia Neumaier Says France Should Target Vape Access, Not Plain Packaging
Seita’s Julia Neumaier Says France Should Target Vape Access, Not Plain Packaging
2Firsts Data | China’s Vape Exports Rise 3.1% in H1 2026 as 6-Methyl Nicotine-Related Products Surge 65.2%
2Firsts Data | China’s Vape Exports Rise 3.1% in H1 2026 as 6-Methyl Nicotine-Related Products Surge 65.2%
BofA Upgrades Imperial Brands, Says Market Overreacted to Australia Slump
BofA Upgrades Imperial Brands, Says Market Overreacted to Australia Slump
Putin Signs Russia’s Tobacco and Nicotine Product Licensing Law, Banning Unlicensed Sales From 2027
Putin Signs Russia’s Tobacco and Nicotine Product Licensing Law, Banning Unlicensed Sales From 2027
UK HMRC Plans 30,000 Retail Enforcement Actions as Illegal Tobacco and Vape Sellers Face Tougher Crackdown
UK HMRC Plans 30,000 Retail Enforcement Actions as Illegal Tobacco and Vape Sellers Face Tougher Crackdown
UK Vape Brands Face White-Packaging and Flavour-Name Curbs in Youth-Appeal Crackdown
UK Vape Brands Face White-Packaging and Flavour-Name Curbs in Youth-Appeal Crackdown
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Contact: info@2firsts.com
Stay up to date.
Submit your email to receive weekly newsletter on the most relevant news of the e-cigarette industry.
© 2026 2FIRSTS. All Right Reserved.
2FIRSTS is only accessible to industry practitioners, researchers, media and other professionals. Access by minors is prohibited.
This website provides services to users outside the Chinese mainland.
English
English
中文