WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.
The vaping world in the Philippines is about to undergo a significant shake-up. Starting June 5, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will enforce strict regulations on vaping products. Assistant Secretary Amanda Nograles recently announced that vaping products without a Philippine Standard (PS) license or an Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) will be banned from entering the country. For those vaping enthusiasts and sellers out there, brace yourselves for a whirlwind of changes. Here’s a deep dive into what’s coming and how it will impact the vaping community.
Starting June 5, the gates are closing on unlicensed vaping products. If your favorite vape brand can’t secure a Philippine Standard (PS) license or an Import Commodity Clearance (ICC), it’s going to be a no-show in the Philippine market. Assistant Secretary Amanda Nograles made it clear during a forum in Makati City that the DTI is not playing around. Unregistered products currently in stock can still be sold, but once they’re gone, they’re gone for good. So, if you’ve got a stash of unregistered vapes, it’s time to puff away before the clock runs out.
For manufacturers, it’s a mad dash to get those licenses. No license means no business. The DTI is tightening the noose to ensure that only compliant and safe vaping products make it to consumers. This move is aimed at safeguarding public health and maintaining product standards. Manufacturers who think they can skirt the rules by applying for an exemption better think again. The DTI’s new stance is as clear as a sunny day at the beach – comply or goodbye.
Mark your calendars for January 5, 2025. That’s the DTI’s official cleanup day for all unregistered vaping products. Think of it as a massive spring cleaning, but for vapes. By this date, any unregistered products still hanging around the market will be rounded up and disposed of. It’s like a vape apocalypse, but only for those that didn’t make the registration cut. Sellers better clear their shelves or face the wrath of the DTI’s broom.
This move is part of the DTI’s long-term plan to rid the market of non-compliant products. It’s a bold step towards a more regulated and safe vaping environment. Sellers with leftover stock after this deadline will find themselves in hot water, so it’s best to start planning that clearance sale now. January 5, 2025, will be a day of reckoning for all those lingering unregistered vapes.
One of the most eyebrow-raising revelations from Assistant Secretary Nograles was the crackdown on vaping products designed like toys. Apparently, some manufacturers thought it was a brilliant idea to make vapes look like children’s playthings. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. The DTI is putting an end to this nonsense. Under Republic Act No. 11900, the Regulation of Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Act, these toy-like vapes will be confiscated faster than you can say “child safety.”
These playful designs are a big no-no because they attract children. The last thing anyone wants is a kid mistaking a vape for a toy. The DTI’s stance is firm: toys are for playing, vapes are for vaping, and never the twain shall meet. Any violators caught selling these child-attracting vapes will face specific penalties. So, manufacturers, it’s time to grow up and make vapes that look like vapes.
In a plot twist worthy of a telenovela, the DTI is also cracking down on marijuana e-cigarettes. Nograles mentioned that during their surveillance and enforcement patrols, any issues found with these products are immediately referred to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). It’s a tag-team effort to keep marijuana out of the vaping scene. If you thought you could sneak in a cheeky weed vape, think again. The DTI and PDEA are watching.
This high alert stance on marijuana e-cigarettes shows the DTI’s commitment to keeping the vaping industry clean and legal. It’s not just about nicotine and non-nicotine products anymore; it’s about ensuring no illegal substances slip through the cracks. Vaping should be a legal, safe activity, not a covert operation for getting high. The DTI is making sure of that.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the Philippines is cracking down on unlicensed vaping products, with new regulations coming into effect on June 5. Speaking at a forum in Makati City, Assistant Secretary Amanda Nograles announced that vaping products without a Philippine Standard (PS) license or an Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) will be banned from entering the country. Unregistered products in stock can be sold until they run out, but by January 5, 2025, the DTI will enforce a market cleanup to dispose of all remaining unregistered products. Additionally, the DTI is targeting vaping products designed like toys, which attract children, and is on high alert for marijuana e-cigarettes, coordinating with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for enforcement. This news signifies a major shift towards stricter regulation in the Philippine vaping industry, aiming to ensure consumer safety and compliance with legal standards.
