Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Sunday said he would urge President Rodrigo Duterte to issue an executive order to regulate vapes and electronic cigarette use in the country.
Go said that as of now, there is no specific law that would regulate the manufacturing, distribution, and sale of vapes and electronic cigarette. He also said the Department of Health’s attempt to execute some rules had been hindered through an injunction from a Pasig court.
Senator Bong Go is the chairman of the Senate committee on health. Go said smoking in any form is a public health problem and could affect smokers and non-smokers alike.
Senator says vapes, electronic cigarettes tampered with shabu possible
Sen. Francis Tolentino is among senators who are pushing for vapes and e-cigs or vapor products ban in the country.
Aside from there is no specific law governing such products, he also said vapes and e-cigs nicotine contents could be replaced with illegal drugs such as methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.
The senator reiterated his call to exclude vapes among the products to be imposed higher “sin taxes” as such can be considered illegal, the country having neither law nor regulation yet on nicotine delivery devices.
“What I’m afraid of is that there might be some skillful drug lords who would put shabu in those vapes,” Tolentino said.
“When you mix in illegal things as well, such as marijuana, cocaine, or whatever juices, the effects change and become dangerous. Then when you say it’s candy, raspberry, strawberry (flavored), it attracts minors,” Senator Vicent Sotto added.
Meanwhile, the Sin Tax Coalition urged senators to immediately pass the proposal to increases taxes on electronic cigarettes and vapor products.
Tolentino, however, said higher “sin taxes” for nicotine delivery devices can be considered illegal since the Philippines has on existing rules yet to regulate such devices.
Last week, the first case of vape-related illness in the Philippines was recorded by the DOH.
The DOH received a report that there was an electronic cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury (EVALI) from Central Visayas.