Philippines' DTI Reaffirms New Rules: E-Cigarette Products Must Hold PS Certification, Violators Face Heavy Penalties

Jan.14.2025
Philippines' DTI Reaffirms New Rules: E-Cigarette Products Must Hold PS Certification, Violators Face Heavy Penalties
Philippines DTI mandates all nicotine and non-nicotine aerosol products to obtain PS license by Dec 31, 2024, under RA 11900.

On January 14th, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) of the Philippines announced on its official website that all nicotine-based and non-nicotine aerosol products must obtain a valid Philippine Standard (PS) license by December 31, 2024, in accordance with Administrative Orders 22-06 and 24-02 of 2022 and 2024, respectively.


These certifications requirements apply to all relevant products that are imported, distributed, and sold in online platforms, digital markets, and physical stores in the Philippines. The supplementary technical regulations have been clarified in Administrative Order No. 24-11 of 2024, which covers the products mentioned in the said administrative order.


Manufacturers, importers, and distributors who fail to obtain certification on time will be in violation of Republic Act No. 11900, specifically Article 18, known as the "Regulation of Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Aerosol Products Law." According to Articles 18 and 19, only officially registered aerosol nicotine and non-nicotine products, as well as their devices or new tobacco products, are allowed to be sold, advertised, or distributed in any way.


Failure to comply with these certification requirements will result in the following penalties under RA 11900 section 23(c):


The first violation will result in a fine of 100,000 Philippine pesos (1700 USD); the second violation will result in a fine of 200,000 Philippine pesos (3500 USD); and the third violation will result in a fine of 400,000 Philippine pesos (7000 USD) and may face up to 3 years in prison or both. In addition, violators may have their business permits and licenses revoked or cancelled.


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 Plans CNY 60 Billion Investment in ICBC, Agricultural Bank as Strategic Ties Extend Beyond Equity
China Tobacco Plans CNY 60 Billion Investment in ICBC, Agricultural Bank as Strategic Ties Extend Beyond Equity
China National Tobacco Corporation and several subsidiaries plan to invest a combined CNY 60 billion ($8.7 billion) in share placements by Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and Agricultural Bank of China as strategic investors. The agreements extend beyond equity investment to corporate governance, banking services and supply-chain finance. The filings also disclose 2025 data on China Tobacco’s tax and profit contributions and industry scale.
Sep.07
Philippines BIR Steps Up Illicit Vape Enforcement Ahead of Christmas Shopping
Philippines BIR Steps Up Illicit Vape Enforcement Ahead of Christmas Shopping
The Philippines’ Bureau of Internal Revenue is intensifying enforcement against illicit vape and tobacco products ahead of the Christmas shopping season, directing regional and enforcement offices to strengthen monitoring of production sites, warehouses, distribution channels and retail outlets. The BIR destroyed 240,550 illicit vape products in August with an estimated tax liability of about PHP1.53 billion. A nationwide tax-compliance operation in July also inspected 3,590 businesses involved in tobacco and vapor products.
Regulations
Sep.17 by 2Firsts Perspectives
Product | JT Expands Vote-Winning EVO Cacao Mint Crystal to Nationwide Retail in Japan, Adds 22-Stick Limited Pack at Same Price
Product | JT Expands Vote-Winning EVO Cacao Mint Crystal to Nationwide Retail in Japan, Adds 22-Stick Limited Pack at Same Price
Japan Tobacco (JT) will expand EVO Cacao Mint Crystal from limited channels to nationwide retail in Japan from October 6, 2026. The Ploom tobacco stick ranked first in the brand's first consumer voting campaign for new tobacco-stick SKUs held earlier this year. JT will also introduce a limited 22-stick pack at the same JPY 620 price as the standard 20-stick pack. The capsule-format product combines menthol with sweet, bittersweet cacao notes and adds a berry nuance when the capsule is crushed.
Sep.09
Altria’s USSTC Starts $250 Million Kentucky Expansion, Adding More Than 200 Jobs
Altria’s USSTC Starts $250 Million Kentucky Expansion, Adding More Than 200 Jobs
U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, an Altria Group company, has broken ground on an approximately $250 million manufacturing expansion in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. The roughly 270,000-square-foot facility is expected to create more than 200 jobs and absorb processing, manufacturing and packaging operations currently split between Hopkinsville and Nashville, Tennessee. USSTC previously said production at its Nashville facility is expected to wind down by early 2028. The project forms part of Altria’s broader effort to modernize and consolidate its U.S. smokeless tobacco manufacturing network.
Sep.10
Product | JNR Launches Shisha Hookah 70K E-Hookah With 60ml E-Liquid and 0.6% Nicotine
Product | JNR Launches Shisha Hookah 70K E-Hookah With 60ml E-Liquid and 0.6% Nicotine
JNR has introduced the Shisha Hookah 70K, a high-capacity rechargeable disposable vape designed around a hookah-inspired experience. The device comes prefilled with 60ml of e-liquid at 6mg/ml (0.6%) nicotine strength, alongside a 1,000mAh rechargeable battery and a 0.38Ω single mesh coil. It also features adjustable airflow and battery and e-liquid level displays. JNR claims the device can deliver up to 70,000 puffs and offers more than 20 flavors. Retail listings for the product have appeared in markets including Tunisia.
Market
Aug.24 by 2Firsts Perspectives
Kumulus Vape2026 H1 Revenue Falls 8.3% but Profit Rises 24% as B2B Weakens and Consumer Channels Grow
Kumulus Vape2026 H1 Revenue Falls 8.3% but Profit Rises 24% as B2B Weakens and Consumer Channels Grow
French vaping company Kumulus Vape reported first-half 2026 revenue of €25.5 million, down 8.3% year over year, as its core B2B distribution business fell 11% to €21.6 million. B2C and store-network revenue rose 5.6% and 17.8%, respectively. Commercial margin increased to 26.3% from 21.7%, while net profit rose 24.1% to €0.8 million. The company attributed the profitability improvement to catalog optimization, logistics restructuring and the ramp-up of Labster, its in-house production unit for proprietary brands.
Market
Sep.17 by 2Firsts Perspectives