Philippines to Implement Graphic Health Warnings on E-cigarettes, Violators Face up to 6 Years in Prison

Regulations by 2FIRSTS.ai
Apr.25.2024
Philippines to Implement Graphic Health Warnings on E-cigarettes, Violators Face up to 6 Years in Prison
Philippines to require graphic health warnings on e-cigarettes and vaping products starting May 2024, with hefty fines for non-compliance.

According to a report by Philippine media outlet Philstar on April 25th, the Department of Health in the Philippines has announced that e-cigarettes or vaping products in the Philippines market will soon be required to display graphic health warnings, similar to tobacco products.

 

The Ministry of Health has released the first set of graphic health warning templates (GHW) for use with nicotine aerosols, tobacco products without nicotine, and new tobacco products.

 

The Ministry of Health announced in a bulletin, "This new set of graphic and text health warning templates will come into full effect on May 12, 2024."

 

Manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers of vaporized nicotine, nicotine-free, and new tobacco products who fail to comply with the graphic health warnings will face fines ranging from 2 million (34,591 USD) to 5 million (86,478 USD) Philippine pesos. The Department of Health stated that violators may also face up to six years in prison and have their licenses revoked. Without proper graphic health warnings, the Bureau of Internal Revenue may also prohibit or seize vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products. Foreign violators will also be deported for non-compliance with graphic health warning requirements.

 

The Health Department is urging the public to report any violations of the regulations on health warning requirements directly to the Ministry of Trade and Commerce.

 

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