Philippines Government Urges Removal of Illegal E-Cigarette Merchants

On April 29, the Philippine government reportedly suggested that e-commerce platforms remove over 15,000 non-compliant electronic cigarette vendors, as reported by the Philippine Star.

Ruth Castelo, the Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry in the Philippines, announced that her department has been monitoring nearly 15,000 online sellers of electronic cigarettes who have been found to have committed illegal acts. The department has recommended that these non-compliant sellers be removed from the platforms.

On December 28, 2022, the Philippines' "Regulation Act on Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products" will take effect, whereby unregistered electronic cigarette products will be subject to the provisions of the law.

Castro stated that if the online platform adheres strictly, there is no need to cancel the sales of the product.

Despite identifying which products cannot be sold, some products still manage to evade detection.

As previously reported by 2FIRSTS, the Consumer Protection Group (CPG) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) issued a stern warning to e-commerce platforms that sell electronic cigarette products to minors. CPG believes that the packaging of these e-cigarettes is highly attractive to underage individuals.

At the time, Castro strongly reminded platforms at the meeting to abide by the law, particularly to ensure that minors cannot access e-cigarette products.

Further reading:

The Philippine e-commerce platform Lazada has been urged to remove illegal electronic cigarette products from its site.

2. The Philippines may include tobacco in its anti-smuggling bill. 3. The Department of Trade and Industry in the Philippines plans to crack down on online platforms that sell illegal e-cigarettes.

References:

shops 【2】In its ongoing crackdown against illegal vape shops, the government has announced plans to shut down an additional 15,000 stores that are not complying with regulations. This move is part of the government's efforts to reduce the number of underage vapers and to ensure that vape products are sold in a safe and responsible manner. The announcement has been met with mixed reactions from the public, with some calling it a necessary step while others are concerned about the impact on small businesses and adult smokers who rely on vaping as a way to quit smoking.