Philippine Standard Authority Issues First PS License to E-Cigarette Manufacturers

According to a report by the Manila Standard on June 4th, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)'s agency, the Bureau of Philippine Standards (DTI-BPS), has issued the first batch of Philippine Standards (PS) permits to manufacturers of heated tobacco products.

Deputy Secretary-General of the Consumer Protection Group of the Ministry of Commerce, Amanda Nograles, stated that

Starting from June 5, 2024, any e-cigarette products that do not carry the Product Standard (PS) mark, license, or ICC mark will be unable to enter the Philippine market.

The companies that have obtained PS licenses this time include Technocom System Sdn. Bhd. and Shenzhen Adwell Technology Co., Ltd. Both companies have successfully passed a rigorous review process and comply with the technical specifications of Republic Act No. 11900 of the Philippines, specifically the "Electronic Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Product Management Act.

According to the certification product list on the DTI-BPS website, the manufacturers of the IQOS ILUMA heated tobacco device, Venture Technocom System and Shenzhen Adwell Technology Co., Ltd., have both obtained licenses valid for three years, with a requirement to renew six months before expiration. It is worth noting that Venture Technocom System and Adwell Technology are the only two factories that have obtained PS logo approval for any products under the "e-cigarette law," with PMFTC Inc. and Royal Connections Inc. as authorized importers of IQOS ILUMA devices.

Furthermore, Noglares disclosed that in January 2025, the Ministry of Commerce will conduct random inspections of e-cigarette products without PS or ICC markings in the market. Sellers will have at least six months to deal with their inventory.

During a public lecture in October 2022, the DTI-BPS clearly stated that certification work is carried out to ensure that all products, equipment, and systems undergo rigorous analysis to meet quality standards and prevent illegal trade.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has announced that all heated tobacco and e-cigarette products will be required to obtain certification starting from June 5, 2024. Distributors and retailers can still sell uncertified electronic nicotine and non-nicotine products until January 5, 2025. After that date, only products with a valid PS mark or ICC label will be allowed for sale. The DTI has the authority to issue immediate recall, prohibition, or confiscation orders for businesses that do not comply with the regulations, to prevent their products from being sold or distributed in the public market.

According to Tianyancha, Shenzhen Adiver Technology Co., Ltd. was established in 2019 and is located in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. It is primarily engaged in the service industry. The legal representative is Zhang Zehong, with a registered capital of 1 million RMB. The business scope includes research and development, technical consultation, and sales of electronic atomization equipment, electronic atomizers and their components, and related equipment. In addition, records show that Adiver registered the SHFT trademark on March 19, 2024, and is currently awaiting substantive examination.