The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is taking tighter action against violators of Republic Act No. 11900, or the "Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act" and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.
This intensification was made to ensure consumers' protection, especially minors.
"We are working double time on our enforcement operations to prevent the sale of vape to minors; that is our duty. Also, we will continue to work with our partner agencies and stakeholders to ensure that violators of RA 11900 and its IRR are penalized accordingly," DTI Secretary Fred Pascual said.
In a press release on Tuesday, the DTI said it confiscated over 18,000 non-compliant vape products from both physical and online stores valued at approximately 5.5 million pesos.
DTI has so far issued notices of violations (NOVs) and show cause orders (SCOs) to 269 physical stores, mandating them to submit a written explanation within 48 hours from their receipt of SCOs and NOVs.
As of January 2024, DTI said it had inspected over 66,000 online vape stores, while 61,000 were issued SCOs out of the monitored firms.
"The DTI focuses on retailers that fail to ensure no minor is allowed to purchase vape. The DTI has issued NOVs and SCOs to retailers for failing to verify the age of buyers and for selling vape products that are packaged, labeled, presented, or marketed with flavor descriptors that unduly appeal to minors. The DTI also flagged violators who used cartoons, anime, manga, animated characters, youth influencers, and personalities," the statement read.
Meanwhile, more than 200 formal charges have been filed with the DTI, and administrative fines have been imposed on decided cases.
The DTI said it is coordinating with other concerned agencies to ensure that all laws on vape products are fully and strictly implemented.
DTI is encouraging consumers to report offenders via email at [email protected] or by calling the Consumer Care Hotline at DTI (1-384).
