Author: Raffy Rico

With the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announcing that it has intensified its enforcement activities to ensure vape products sold in the market comply with the provisions of the Republic Act No. 11900 (RA 11900), or the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act, child rights advocates reveal that they have “high expectations” on the government body to pursue a child-friendly interpretation of the law. Child Rights Network (CRN), the largest alliance of organizations and agencies pushing for children’s rights legislation in the Philippines, and the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD), together with Parents against Vape (PAV), said that the DTI must ensure strict enforcement of the law to protect children from the marketing tactics of the tobacco and vape industry. This strict enforcement includes banning youthful marketing strategies and restricting flavors of e-cigarettes and vapes to conventional tobacco and menthol. In a statement issued last week, following the Senate inquiry led by Senator Pia Cayetano and statements from other legislators including Representative Joey Salceda on the proliferation of vape products and flavors that target the youth, the DTI reiterated that the implementing rules and regulations of RA 11900 have taken effect on December 28, 2022, giving vape manufacturers and importers an 18-month transitory period until June 5, 2024, to comply with product registration and certification requirements. Under the new law, only those registered with...