After e-cigarettes were seriously misunderstood in the Philippines last year, on February 28 this year finally ushered in a rational view!
Last year, when a related case of lung injury occurred in the Philippines, it was mistakenly thought that it was caused by e-cigarettes. The government’s attitude towards e-cigarettes was very severe, and then it rose to the level of the president.
On November 19 last year local time, Philippine President Duterte issued a very severe speech on e-cigarettes, saying that the use and import of e-cigarettes would be banned and anyone who uses them would be arrested.
“I’d like to ban it, including use and import. Do you know why? Because it is toxic, the government has the right to introduce measures to protect public health and the public interest,” Duterte said.
Just hours after Philippine President Duterte announced that he would ban the use of e-cigarettes, on November 20, 2019, the Philippine police received an order to begin arresting those who used e-cigarettes in public places.
After this storm, the new year of 2020 finally began to usher in good news!
On February 28, 2020, the Philippine Presidential Palace issued an executive order signed by President Duterte, amending the national smoking ban order issued in 2017 to include e-cigarettes in the control.
Although e-cigarettes are included in the control scope, the executive order stipulates that companies involved in the manufacture or sale of e-cigarettes can operate after registering with the Philippine Food and Drug Administration and obtaining a license. In the process of business, enterprises must also comply with Philippine government regulations related standards.
This executive order marks the beginning of the standardized development of e-cigarettes in the Philippines! The Philippines’ government’s treatment of e-cigarettes is no longer simple, rude and one-size-fits-all! The Philippine government no longer bans the use and import of e-cigarettes!
Of course, it can’t be purely positive, there must be restrictions on e-cigarettes. According to this executive order, the minimum age for a person who legally purchases, owns or uses various types of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, in the Philippines is 21.
It is stipulated that e-cigarettes are prohibited from being used in public places except for designated smoking areas (similar to the regulations in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hangzhou and other cities). The new rules will take effect 15 days after they are announced.
