Philippine President Marcos Orders Crackdown on Tobacco and E-cigarette Smuggling

Regulations by 2FIRSTS.ai

May.09.2024

Philippine President Marcos Orders Crackdown on Tobacco and E-cigarette Smuggling

Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. orders customs and tax bureaus to crack down on tobacco and e-cigarette smuggling.

According to a report from the Philippines News Agency on May 9th, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has instructed the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to enhance efforts to combat the smuggling of tobacco and e-cigarette products.

On Wednesday (8th), Marcos stated at the 6th Private Sector Consultation Conference that there is a need to further strengthen efforts to combat smuggling activities. At the same time, Marcos expressed the hope for increased efficiency in combating smuggling cases through the joint participation of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

The Customs Bureau and the National Tax Bureau will make further efforts so that we can improve our performance in this area.

Special Assistant Frederick Go stated that the Department of Trade and Industry's Consumer Protection Group has committed to deploying more personnel to help monitor the e-cigarette industry. Meanwhile, Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. also mentioned that his agency has implemented a tax stamp system for e-cigarettes to clean up the market of illegal e-cigarette products.

Additionally, the Department of Agriculture's group (PSAC-ASG) has proposed several suggestions and policy demands to protect the tobacco industry. This includes providing funding for the National Tobacco Administration's (NTA) Sustainable Tobacco Enhancement Program (STEP) under the Republic Act. The organization also calls for the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to set registration deadlines for e-cigarette importers and manufacturers, and for the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to begin implementing tax requirements on tobacco and e-cigarette products. It emphasizes that monthly reports on the enforcement of these products must be submitted to the Office of the President.

According to reports, the tobacco industry in the Philippines provides livelihood to 2.2 million Filipinos, with tobacco consumption tax accounting for 4% of the government's total revenue. In 2023, this is projected to reach 135 billion pesos (2.35 billion US dollars).

The Philippine government has allocated 50% of the consumption tax to fund universal healthcare and improve facilities.

References:

[1] Marcos orders beefed up drive vs. tobacco, vape products smuggling

Also Read:

[1] BIR to Begin Confiscation of Unmarked E-cigarette Products from 2024

[2] BIR to Confiscate Unmarked E-cigarette Products Starting 2024

[3] Philippines Intensifies Crackdown on Unregistered E-cigarette Sales with Tracking System

[4] DTI Reports Millions Worth of Seized Illegal E-cigarette Products

[5] Philippines to Implement Graphic Health Warnings on E-cigarettes, Violators Face up to 6 Years in Prison

[6] DTI Plans to Release Supplemental Guidelines for E-cigarette Certification

[7] Warehouses Raided by Philippine Tax Bureau, 63,139 Vape Products Seized

#Traditional tobacco #Legislation #Asia #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

Malaysia’s Home Ministry Urges Study of IQOS Tobacco Device Ahead of Potential Legislation

Malaysia’s Home Ministry has recommended that the National Poison Centre conduct a study on the IQOS heated tobacco device, developed by a leading global tobacco company. Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the research would help the government prepare future legislation addressing emerging nicotine technologies. While health risks remain uncertain, officials stress the need for proactive, adaptable legal frameworks.

Nov.27 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Canada’s B.C. Passes First Vaping Cost-Recovery Framework, Allowing Government to Sue Manufacturers Over Health Expenses

According to the Nelson Star, British Columbia has passed the Vaping Product Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act by a 49–42 vote. The legislation enables the provincial government to seek recovery of future public health costs from vape manufacturers, following models used in opioid and tobacco litigation.

Dec.03

Philip Morris Japan launches new IQOS SENTIA “Icy Red” flavor with icy menthol and red berry notes

Philip Morris Japan has announced the launch of a new SENTIA Icy Red tobacco stick for its IQOS ILUMA i and IQOS ILUMA heated tobacco devices, featuring an intense menthol profile with red fruit notes. The new product will roll out in stages from December across physical IQOS outlets, online channels and tobacco retailers nationwide in Japan, priced at 530 yen (approx. USD 3.4) per pack.

Dec.01 by 2FIRSTS.ai

U.S. Lawmakers Seek to Empower HHS to Destroy Counterfeit Chinese Tobacco Products

Bipartisan members of the U.S. Congress have introduced the “Ensuring the Necessary Destruction of Illicit Chinese Tobacco Act” (END Act), seeking to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to authorize the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to directly destroy adulterated, misbranded, or counterfeit imported tobacco products.Major tobacco companies, including Altria, along with several public health organizations, have announced their support for the bill.