MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has formally banned vaping or the use of electronic cigarettes in public places.
Released yesterday, Duterte’s Executive Order No. 106 also prohibited the sale of e-cigarettes to minors and requires the registration of such products with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
All devices forming components of ENDS/ENNDS or HTPs are now subject to the product standards imposed by the Department of Trade and Industry and the FDA.
Other novel tobacco products will be regulated in accordance with the law and other issuances while establishments that manufacture, distribute, import, and sell e-cigarettes are required to get a license to operate from the FDA.
“[T]here is a need to regulate access to and use of ENDS/ENNDS, heated tobacco products and other novel tobacco products to address the serious and irreversible threat to public health, prevent the initiation of non-smokers and the youth, and minimize health risks to both users and other parties exposed to emissions,” the EO stated.
In one of his speeches last year, President Duterte said he planned to ban the use of vape products in public places as he likened vaping to smoking tobacco cigarettes which he earlier prohibited nationwide.
“I will ban it. I will ban the use and importation. You know why? Because it is toxic and the government has the power to issue measures to protect public health and public interest,” Duterte said then.
He added: “You know ang cigarettes, the confirmed chemical there that is not good for humans is nicotine. It is habit-forming. It is toxic and it kills people.”
On vaping, he said, “sabi nila electronic. Don’t give me that shit. Better stop it because I will order your arrest if you do it in a room. I am now ordering law-enforcing agencies to arrest anybody vaping in public, which is like smoking. You cannot do it inside the room. That’s full of shit. You contaminate people.”
Over a million Filipinos use e-cigarettes according to the Department of Health, which has repeatedly warned that e-cigarettes are not a proven nicotine replacement therapy and can cause lung illness./PN
