Senator Win Gatchalian said a law may be needed to further regulate the sale of e-cigarettes, vapes, and other electronic nicotine and non-nicotine delivery systems in the Philippines.
Gatchalian issued the statement after the CEO of Juul Labs stepped down amid growing concern in the United States over the safety of the e-cigarette company’s products.
“We are already preparing a bill, which we will file soon, to regulate the packaging, advertisement, sale, and distribution of e-cigarettes in the country, including Juul,” Gatchalian said.
The lawmaker stressed that unlike tobacco products, e-cigarettes are made easily available and appealing to children and adolescents because of its online availability, colorful packaging, attractive flavors, and the absence of the typical tobacco odor.
“Inadvertently or not, these products are marketed in such a way that they are enticing to minors. In effect, these e-cigarette products have lured a new generation of children into nicotine addiction,” Gatchalian said.
“Also, the manufacturers, distributors and sellers of these products are claiming that e-cigarettes are safer or healthier alternatives to traditional cigarettes so we need a regulatory framework to check the safety claims of the e-cigarettes that are being sold in the market. This is necessary to assure the public of the effects to their health of the chemicals or substances they ingest in their bodies,” he added.
Juul Labs Inc. claimed during a hearing by the Senate Ways and Means Committee earlier this month that its products are a “healthier” alternative that helps smokers quit tobacco.
Juul Asia Pacific President Kenneth Bishop made the claim as he argued their products should be taxed differently from other e-cigarettes, in connection with the comprehensive tax reform program’s package two plus, which proposes to increase excise tax on e-cigarettes and vapor products without any distinction as to the type of product, among others.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), however, has warned Juul Labs for illegally marketing its product as a safer alternative to cigarettes.
The FDA chastised Juul for making scientifically unsubstantiated claims and marketing e-cigarettes as “modified risk tobacco products,” suggesting they are safe, relatively risk-free ways to quit smoking.
There have been nine deaths in the US tied to vaping and e-cigarettes. According to the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as of September 17 there have been 530 cases of lung injury associated with e-cigarette products.
REGULASYON NG E-CIGARETTES, ISABATAS – GATCHALIAN
Kailangang magpasa ng batas para sa regulasyon ng pagbebenta ng e-cigarettes sa bansa ,ayon kay Senador Win Gatchalian,
Naglabas ng pahayag si Gatchalian kasunod sa pagbitiw ng CEO ng Juul Labs sa tungkulin sa gitna ng lumalaking kontrobersiya sa Estados Unidos tungkol sa usaping kaligtasan ng mga produktong galing sa nasabing kompanya.
“Hinahanda na namin ang panukalang batas na ihahain sa mga susunod na araw para maisaayos ang packaging, advertisement, pagbebenta, at distribusyon ng e-cigarettes sa bansa, kasama na ang Juul,” ani Gatchalian.
Idiniin ng mambabatas na hindi tulad ng mga producktong tabako, ang e-cigarettes ay mas madaling bilhin at mas nakakaakit sa kabataan dahil maaari itong mabili online, makulay ang packaging, kakaiba ang lasa, at walang amoy kagaya ng tipikal na tabako.
Sinasadya man o hindi, ang mga produktong ito ay ibinebenta sa pamamaraan na nagiging kaakit-akit sa mga bata. Dahil dito, ang mga e-cigarette products ay nagiging sanhi ng nicotine addiction sa bagong henerasyon ng mga bata,” sabi ni Gatchalian.
“Bukod pa rito, sinasabi ng manufacturers, distributors at mga nagtitinda ng e-cigarettes na mas ligtas na alternatibo ito sa tradisyunal na sigarilyo kung kaya’t kailangan natin ng regulatory framework para siguruhin ang safety claims ng e-cigarettes na binibenta sa merkado. Kinakailangan ito para matiyak natin sa publiko ang epekto ng mga kemikal sa kanilang kalusugan.” giit ni Gatchalian.
Sa pagdinig ng Senate Committee on Ways and Means noong nakaraang linggo, sinabi ng Juul Labs Inc. na ang mga produkto nito ay mas mabuting alternatibo na tumutulong sa paghinto sa paninigarilyo.
Igniit ni Kenneth Bishop, President ng Juul Asia Pacific, na ang kanilang produkto ay dapat patawan ng mas mababang buwis kaugnay sa package two plus comprehensive tax reform program.
Gayunpaman, binalaan ng US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ang Juul sa iligal na pag-aanunsiyo sa publiko na ang kanilang produkto ay mas ligtas na alternatibo sa sigarilyo.
Kinastigo ng FDA ang Juul sa pagpapakalat ng hindi pa napapatunayang impormasyon at ang diumano’y “modified risk tobacco products” na nagsasabing ligtas na paraan ito upang matigil ang paninigarilyo.
Ayon naman sa US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), mayroon nang siyam na kaso ng pagkamatay sa US na inuugnay sa vaping at e-cigarettes. Humigit kumulang naman sa 530 na kaso ng pagkapinsala sa baga ang diumano’y dulot sa e-cigarettes simula noong ika-17 ng Septyembre.