DAVAO CITY — The Department of Health (DOH) is supporting the proposal of Finance Secretary Ralph Recto to ban disposable vape products in the Philippines citing health risks to humans.
In a statement, DOH said that all vape products in general result in significant health risks, including e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI), nicotine addiction, and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
The Health Department cited that disposable vapes are also made with plastic and batteries which are not easily recyclable or biodegradable. “These items result in electronic waste (e-waste) that contains harmful chemicals that can seep into soil and water sources, posing risks to both the environment and public health,” the agency added.
In an earlier interview with the members of the press, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said he asked the Philippine National Police (PNP) to make sure that underage individuals do not have access to vapes.
In January 2018, the American Cancer Society published a report released by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine which says that using e-cigarettes causes health risks saying it both contain and emit several potential toxic substances.
It also cited that E-cigarettes also contain acrolein, a herbicide primarily used to kill weeds. It can cause acute lung injury and COPD and may cause asthma and lung cancer.
Recto on Tuesday proposed banning disposable vapes in the Philippines, claiming that most of those proliferating in the market are not registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and do not pay excise taxes.
“We don’t know if it’s safe being unregulated. They do not pay taxes and are sold/appeal to minors,” the Finance chief said, adding that he has yet to formally inform the DTI about his proposal.
As it is now, the prevailing market price of disposable vape varies from P110 to P430 per device.
Recto said that if disposable vapes fully comply with tax obligations, the selling price of their devices should not fall below P3,000 each.
On July 25, 2022, Republic Act No. 11900, or the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act, which had been passed by Congress, lapsed into law.
