New vape rules to take effect in June

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will require all vape products to be registered with the agency as the new Vape Law takes effect in June, an official said.

At a forum in Makati City on Tuesday, May 28, DTI Undersecretary Amanda Nograles said the importation and manufacturing of vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products and novel tobacco products must now undergo the DTI certification process. This means that products must have the Philippine Standard (PS) mark and Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) sticker first before they can be sold on the market.

Nograles said at least three companies have already applied for registration and they urge others to begin the process since the registration may take some time. She clarified that there will be a six-month transition period to allow all firms to comply.

“Hahayaan muna ubusan mga inventory na nakapasok na, hayaan muna ibenta. Pagdating ng January 5, 2025, ‘yun na po market clearing tayo, wala na dapat kahit anong vape na walang PS license ‘yung manufacturer o ICC,” she said.

Nograles said they will also continue to monitor shops to ensure that no minors will be allowed to buy vape products. They will also check if the vape has marijuana oil.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) will also affix tax stamps on vape products starting next week, similar to stamps they put on imported cigarettes and alcohol drinks. This is to ensure that unregulated products do not spread across the country.

“Enforcing the affix of excise stamp tax beginning June 1 on vape products could be a great help not only for BIR, but also on the business or vape industry,” said Atty. Venus Gaticales, chief of the BIR Excise Large Taxpayers Field Operations Division.

The government vows to strictly implement the new Vape Law to protect the children and also for a possible increase in tax collection. BIR said it is seeing a rise in revenue losses because of smuggled cigarettes. That amount hit over P25 billion in 2023 and a study shows it will increase this year and the next.

“We are still exerting best efforts to collect or increase collection of tobacco products, excise tax of tobacco products,” added Gaticales.

BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. urged the public to report any incidents of smuggling to the authorities. This was after they recently discovered homes that were converted into warehouses in Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur. The homes were filled with smuggled cigarettes with a corresponding P219 million tax liability. (ABS-CBN News)