Philippine senators have called for strengthening tobacco and vape regulation. They point out that the Ministry of Trade and Industry cannot assess the safety of vapes and suggest that the Ministry of Health take the lead in regulation.
Philippine Senator Pia Cayetano has called for stricter regulation and a unified stance against misconduct in the tobacco and vape industries.
The lawmaker, who chairs the Public Officials Accountability and Investigations Committee (Blue Ribbon), wants clarity on agencies’ roles in implementing the vape Law and safeguarding public health. She pointed out that while the vape Law requires the Ministry of Trade and Industry to be responsible for product regulation, the agency lacks the capacity and expertise to deal with health and safety-related components of vapes.
In previous hearings, the panel confirmed that the Ministry of Trade and Industry can only test equipment, batteries, and chargers but lacks the professional capacity to assess chemical safety. This is unlike the Food and Drug Administration, which has pharmacists, toxicologists, and professionals who can conduct rigorous safety testing, Cayetano said.
Cayetano noted that the Department of Health (DOH) should lead future delegations to ensure that public health is a priority. She stressed the need for the delegation to be led by the Ministry of Health to advocate for public health policies and fulfill obligations under the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control while criticizing the tobacco industry for undermining public health policies through “misleading information, aggressive marketing, and lobbying”. “These tactics have been around for decades and are designed to delay regulation, create loopholes, and normalize harmful products,” Cayetano said.
