Philippines

Philippine House Committee on Ways and Means passes a bill banning online tobacco sales to combat illegal trade.

BIR chief personally seizes FLAVA e-cigarette vending machine, raising concerns about illegal products sold near children's facilities.

The Philippine Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) implements new tax law to collect 1% withholding tax from online merchants.

DTI-FTEB and Southern Police District raided two businesses in Pasay City, seizing over 500M pesos worth of illegal e-cigarette products.

DTI's "Karasa Task Force" seized 89.7 million worth of unregistered and mislabeled products in just three months.

DOH reiterated smoking ban in Philippine detention centers, citing benefits for detainees, visitors, and personnel. BJMP strictly enforces policy.

Philippine Senator Robin Padilla proposed stricter regulations on e-cigarette products, aiming to ban HHC in all products.

DTI to reduce monitored products in SRP list, suggest e-commerce platforms suspend e-cigarette sales. NPCC recommends cut and keep items.