According to a report by PNA on January 16th, Philippine Senator Pia Cayetano has called for stricter regulation of the tobacco and e-cigarette industries and the establishment of a unified stance.
The legislator, in her capacity as Chair of the Public Officials Responsibility and Investigation Committee (Blue Ribbon), aims to clarify the roles of various agencies in implementing the E-cigarette Act and safeguarding public health. She noted that while the E-cigarette Act tasks the Department of Trade and Industry with product regulation, the agency lacks the capacity and expertise to handle components related to e-cigarette health and safety.
During the previous hearing, the expert group confirmed that the Department of Trade and Industry only has the capacity to test equipment, batteries, and chargers, but lacks the professional expertise to assess chemical safety. Kaya Tano expressed that unlike the FDA, which has pharmacists, toxicologists, and professionals who can conduct rigorous safety testing.
Kaye Tano emphasized that the Department of Health (DOH) should lead future delegations to ensure the prioritization of public health. She stressed that the delegation must be led by the Department of Health in order to advocate for public health policies and fulfill obligations under the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, while criticizing the tobacco industry for undermining public health policies through "misinformation, aggressive marketing, and lobbying activities." Tano stated, "These strategies have been in place for decades, with the purpose of delaying regulation, creating loopholes, and normalizing harmful products.
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