Key Points
DTI has placed nicotine pouches under the Philippines' mandatory product certification regime through DAO No. 26-07.
Nicotine pouches will use the Philippine Standard licensing scheme; the Import Commodity Clearance certification route does not apply.
Product testing covers nicotine content, pH and water activity, alongside manufacturing and quality-control requirements.
A 12-month transition period applies to existing products, after which only nicotine pouches with a valid PS license may remain on the Philippine market.
2Firsts
October 12, 2026
According to Department Administrative Order No. 26-07 issued by the Philippines Department of Trade and Industry, nicotine pouches are now subject to mandatory product certification and must obtain a Philippine Standard, or PS, license before they can be manufactured, imported, packed, distributed or sold in the country.
The order was signed on Sept. 2 and publicly released by DTI in early October. It requires nicotine pouches to comply with applicable Philippine standards and technical requirements, including testing for nicotine content, pH and water activity.
DTI has provided a 12-month transition period for existing manufacturers, importers and other market participants to obtain certification. Once the transition ends, only products covered by a valid PS license may remain on the Philippine market.
PS Licensing Is the Sole Certification Route
Under the administrative order, nicotine pouches are placed specifically under the Philippine Standard licensing scheme.
DTI states that the Import Commodity Clearance, or ICC, scheme generally used for certain imported regulated products will not apply to nicotine pouches.
The PS scheme focuses on manufacturers and production facilities, requiring companies to demonstrate that their manufacturing systems and products comply with applicable Philippine standards and technical regulations.
Imported nicotine pouches must therefore originate from a manufacturing facility holding a valid PS license rather than relying solely on shipment-by-shipment ICC certification.
The framework shifts regulatory control toward manufacturing-source certification and continuing product compliance.
Testing Covers Nicotine Content, pH and Water Activity
Product testing forms part of the certification requirements.
Nicotine pouches are subject to tests covering nicotine content, pH and water activity.
Testing may be conducted through qualified in-house facilities or DTI-recognized laboratories, including eligible accredited overseas laboratories, subject to the requirements of the Philippine product-certification system.
Nicotine-content testing verifies the amount declared on the product label, while pH is an important parameter affecting nicotine release and absorption through the oral mucosa. Water activity is used in assessing product stability and microbial-control conditions.
Manufacturers must also submit a written declaration that the product contains no substance classified as a dangerous drug under the Philippines' Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Packaging Must Disclose Nicotine Content Per Pouch
DAO No. 26-07 also introduces detailed marking and labeling requirements.
Each retail pack must carry clear and durable information in English or Filipino, including:
the product and variant name;
declared nicotine content in milligrams per pouch;
the number of pouches in the pack;
manufacturing date;
batch or lot number;
ingredients listed in descending order by weight;
allergen information;
manufacturer details;
importer details;
use and disposal instructions;
the PS certification mark and license number; and
prescribed health warnings.
The order also restricts post-manufacturing alterations that could affect product quality, safety or traceability, including changes to labeling or packaging configuration.
Health Warnings Cover Contraindications and Adverse Reactions
Retail packaging must also display health warnings prescribed by Philippine health authorities.
The required consumer information covers areas including contraindications, potential medication interactions, precautions, adverse reactions and treatment related to nicotine overdose.
The regime therefore extends beyond manufacturing controls and into detailed consumer-risk disclosure.
Manufacturing and Toll-Packing Facilities Subject to Oversight
The PS licensing system also applies to manufacturing operations.
Manufacturers must demonstrate appropriate quality-management and testing capabilities and may be subject to inspections and surveillance by DTI authorities.
Toll-packing and related facilities are also subject to requirements covering registration, audits, traceability and quality-management systems.
Manufacturers performing in-house testing must demonstrate adequate equipment, personnel and technical capability. Companies relying on outside testing must use laboratories recognized or accepted under the relevant Philippine conformity-assessment framework.
A PS license therefore operates as an ongoing certification regime rather than a one-time product registration.
Uncertified Products Barred After 12-Month Transition
DTI has established a 12-month transition period for compliance.
During the transition, products already on the Philippine market may undergo the PS licensing process, including testing, documentation, facility assessment and packaging changes.
After the transition period expires, nicotine pouches without a valid PS license may no longer be manufactured, imported, packed, distributed, offered for sale or sold in the Philippines.
PS certification will therefore become a direct market-access requirement for the category.
DTI first published a draft administrative order in April 2026 and sought stakeholder comments on the proposed certification regime. DAO No. 26-07 formally converts that proposal into a mandatory requirement.
Philippines Builds Product-Specific Framework for Nicotine Pouches
The Philippines already operates product-registration and certification systems for vaping and heated tobacco products.
Vapor-product devices and heated tobacco product systems are among products subject to mandatory DTI certification.
Nicotine pouches differ from vaping products because they involve neither electronic devices nor e-liquid. DAO No. 26-07 therefore establishes technical requirements tailored to oral nicotine products, with a focus on nicotine content, product chemistry, labeling and manufacturing quality.
The Philippine National Tobacco Administration has also previously treated snus and nicotine pouches as a separate category within its import-monitoring system and applies specific monitoring and evaluation fees to such imports.
Mandatory PS certification now adds a product-safety and manufacturing-compliance layer to that regulatory framework.
Once the 12-month transition period expires, manufacturing certification, product testing, labeling and a valid PS license will form the principal market-access requirements for nicotine pouches in the Philippines.
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Cover Image: Manila Bulletin
