DOH to DTI: Strictly implement vape sale restrictions

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday called on the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to strictly implement the prohibitions and restrictions on the sale and use of vape products, especially after members of the country’s young population were reported to be easily being lured to using e-cigarettes.

“The DOH urges the Department of Trade and Industry, as the mandated authority, to strictly enforce the provisions of the vape law, to prohibit access to these harmful products, especially among the youth,” the DOH said in a statement.

“(We ask the DTI) to proactively scan the market and confiscate said products that are unregistered and violative of the vape law, including those that have flavors that are found to attract the youth,” it added.

Tobacco control advocates earlier raised the alarm over the “vape epidemic” spreading among young people.

Based on the 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey, about 14.1 percent of school-aged children are smoking electronic cigarettes or vapes.

The DOH said it would continue to inform the public on the harmful effects of vaping.

It added that it would promote and establish smoke-free and vape-free environments through social media campaigns.

The agency noted that it has already issued templates to implement the graphic health warnings for vape products and other similar products in order to raise awareness on the ill effects of using such.

“We also encourage our provincial and local governments to implement our smoke-free and vape-free playbooks so that we are enabled to live in a healthier environment,” the DOH said.