Philippine Tax Bureau Cracks Down on Vape Store Selling Illicit Products

Nov.21.2024

Philippine Tax Bureau Cracks Down on Vape Store Selling Illicit Products

BIR raided a Quezon City vape store offering illicit products through a secret menu. Authorities found unstamped vapes stored in a warehouse and emphasized intensifying efforts against illegal sales.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Tuesday raided a vape store in Quezon City that allegedly offered a "secret menu" of illicit vape products, Business Insight reported on November 21.

In a statement released on Wednesday (the 20th), the BIR revealed that the raid led by Director Romeo Lumagui Jr. uncovered that the illicit products listed on the "menu" were not displayed in the store but hidden in a warehouse behind it.

"The vape store displayed legal vape, but once you ask for illicit vape, they will bring the "menu" and get the illicit vape from the bodega," Lumagui said.

In addition, the store was found selling vapes without internal revenue stamps and failing to provide an official receipt for purchases of the illicit products.

The bureau stated that details of the seized products and raided establishments from the nationwide operation are being consolidated.

BIR Commissioner Lumagui emphasized that the agency will intensify its crackdown on sellers of illicit vape products and urged the public to report such retailers or resellers.

References:

[1] BIR raids vape store with secret menu

Also Read:

[1] Philippine Finance Department: Tobacco and E-cigarette Smuggling Costs $900 Million Annually

[2] Philippine BIR to Intensify Crackdown on Illegal E-cigarette Market as Revenue Falls Short

[3] Philippines BIR E-Cigarette Tax Revenue Reaches $17M, Covers Less Than 10-20% of Market

[4] Philippines Seizes $80M in Illegal Vapes Over 10 Months

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

[6] Philippine President invited to international tobacco summit to focus on fight against illicit tobacco trade

#Legislation #Asia #Open system e-cigarettes #Philippines

China Tobacco Regulation Shift：Policy Updates and Market Impact

China Tobacco Regulation Shift：Policy Updates and Market Impact

Glas, the FDA, and the Future of Flavored ENDS

Glas, the FDA, and the Future of Flavored ENDS

California federal judge certifies direct purchaser class in Juul–Altria antitrust litigation

California federal judge certifies direct purchaser class in Juul–Altria antitrust litigation

A California federal judge has certified a class of direct purchasers of Juul products in antitrust litigation alleging Juul and Altria conspired to have Altria exit the e-cigarette market.

Mar.02 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Philip Morris Korea to Launch IQOS Iluma i One “Electric Purple” Color, Expanding Into Major Convenience Store Channels From May

Philip Morris Korea to Launch IQOS Iluma i One “Electric Purple” Color, Expanding Into Major Convenience Store Channels From May

Philip Morris Korea said on March 31 that it will begin selling the new “Electric Purple” color for the heated tobacco device IQOS Iluma i One at major convenience stores nationwide in South Korea starting May 2. The color will first be introduced on April 10 at the official IQOS online store and nine IQOS directly operated stores nationwide. To mark the expansion of its sales channels, the company will run promotions at major convenience stores through May 20.

Al Fakher Parent AIR Advances U.S. Listing Plan, With Deal Expected in First Half of 2026

Al Fakher Parent AIR Advances U.S. Listing Plan, With Deal Expected in First Half of 2026

AIR Limited and Cantor Equity Partners III, Inc. announced that AIR and AIR Holdings Limited have filed a Form F-4 registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with their previously announced proposed business combination. Upon closing, the combined company, AIR Global PLC, is expected to be listed on Nasdaq in the United States under the ticker symbol “AIIR.”

Mar.31 by 2FIRSTS.ai

South Africa health department agrees to exempt smokeless and non-combustible products from tobacco control bill

South Africa health department agrees to exempt smokeless and non-combustible products from tobacco control bill

At a parliamentary committee meeting in South Africa, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said the health department has agreed to exempt non-combustible and smokeless products — including chewing tobacco, snus, nicotine pouches and e-cigarettes — from the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill. The department is prepared, at this stage, to exempt them from packaging and labelling requirements except for misleading or false claims.

Mar.06 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Bangladesh High Court rule targets vape-ban clause; fines up to about $1,635 cited

Bangladesh High Court rule targets vape-ban clause; fines up to about $1,635 cited

Bangladesh’s High Court issued a rule asking why Section 6(G) of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act, 2005 — which bans the import, supply and sale of vapes and e-cigarettes — should not be declared unconstitutional and illegal.

Mar.02 by 2FIRSTS.ai

New Mexico Attorney General Files Lawsuit Over Sales of Flavored Disposable E-Cigarettes

New Mexico Attorney General Files Lawsuit Over Sales of Flavored Disposable E-Cigarettes

The New Mexico Department of Justice announced that it has filed a lawsuit against major convenience store chains and distributors, alleging that they sold flavored disposable e-cigarettes and contributed to youth nicotine addiction across the state.

Apr.01 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Related Topics

News Regulation

Related Read

California federal judge certifies direct purchaser class in Juul–Altria antitrust litigation

California federal judge certifies direct purchaser class in Juul–Altria antitrust litigation

Philip Morris Korea to Launch IQOS Iluma i One “Electric Purple” Color, Expanding Into Major Convenience Store Channels From May

Philip Morris Korea to Launch IQOS Iluma i One “Electric Purple” Color, Expanding Into Major Convenience Store Channels From May

Al Fakher Parent AIR Advances U.S. Listing Plan, With Deal Expected in First Half of 2026

Al Fakher Parent AIR Advances U.S. Listing Plan, With Deal Expected in First Half of 2026

South Africa health department agrees to exempt smokeless and non-combustible products from tobacco control bill

South Africa health department agrees to exempt smokeless and non-combustible products from tobacco control bill

Bangladesh High Court rule targets vape-ban clause; fines up to about $1,635 cited

Bangladesh High Court rule targets vape-ban clause; fines up to about $1,635 cited

New Mexico Attorney General Files Lawsuit Over Sales of Flavored Disposable E-Cigarettes

New Mexico Attorney General Files Lawsuit Over Sales of Flavored Disposable E-Cigarettes