Now sold online and in shops and stalls in shopping malls, in 24-hour convenience stores, on sidewalks and even in sari-sari stores, the so-called novel tobacco products are prominently displayed, and use brands and packaging attractive to the youth.
President Marcos Jr. did not heed the call of former health secretaries, heads of health agencies, and several medical groups to veto the contested vape bill.
If President Rodrigo Duterte approves the vape bill before he leaves Malacanang on June 30, the Department of Health (DOH) says it will “result in an absurd situation” wherein similar products that cause harm and danger are regulated differently.
RA 11467 took full effect on May 25, after an 18-month transition period for manufacturers, distributors, importers, and sellers of vapor products to comply with its implementing rules and regulations.
More than four months have passed since Congress ratified in haste the proposed "Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act" or the vape bill, but the measure's final copy has yet to reach Malacañang for President Rodrigo Duterte to either sign or veto it, or to let it lapse into law after 30 days from submission.
Sa klaro kaayong tinguha nga mapaspasan ang pagpasar sa vaping bills, ang 18th Congress nibaliktad sa iyang legislative nga tradisyon o pagtahod sa ilang bugtong kauban nga kanunay nagsupak.
Mga vape products nga gipamaligya sa merkado malimbungon tungod sa ilang porma, matod ni Dr. Rizalina Gonzalez, usa ka pediatrician ug chair sa Philippine Pediatric Society Tobacco Control Advocacy Group (PPS-TCAG), sa usa ka interbyu sa VERA Files.
Ti DOH, FDA, sumagmamano nga professional organizations ken health experts, youth groups ken tobacco control advocates ket agtalek da nga ni Presidente Duterte ket saan na nga baliwan ti anti-smoking ken anti-vaping position na ket i-veto na ti proposed nga linteg nga kontra iti policy nga insaad na idi 2019.
Ang pagbaba ng minimum age ng mga taong maaaring bumili, magbenta, o gumamit ng vapes at electronic cigarettes sa 18 taong gulang ay nangangahulugan nang pagbibigay sa mas bata ng access sa mga produkto na may masamang epekto sa kalusugan na maaaring humantong sa substance abuse, sinabi ng mga medical at health expert.
Lowering the minimum age of persons who can buy, sell, or use vapes and electronic cigarettes to 18 years old means giving younger people access to products with adverse health effects and which could lead to substance abuse, medical and health experts say.