Recently, the Philippines’ Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced its latest vape regulatory measures. Proposing to suspend sales on vape commerce platforms. Pending compliance with legal requirements.
Suspend online sales of vape products until legal requirements are met
As reported by Malaya Business Insight on July 1. The Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will be lowering the list of products monitored in its Suggested Retail Price (SRP) notices. Keeping only the most essential and primary products.
DTI is also proposing a moratorium on the sale of vape brands through e-commerce platforms until these platforms follow the provisions of the Internet Transactions Act (ITA) to refine its system.
Amanda Nograles – DTI Undersecretary (Amanda Nograles) At a special meeting last Thursday (June 27). The National Price Coordination Council said the (NPCC) has recommended the removal of the following commodities from the SRP gazette: condensed milk, volatile milk, instant coffee, candles, salt, bottled water, vinegar, raw soy sauce, fish sauce (patis) and batteries. The following commodities are proposed to be retained: canned sardines, 3-in-1 coffee, instant noodles, powdered milk, and bread. Laundry soap, bath soap, and canned meat.
The deputy minister said the DTI has set up a technical working group to discuss stock-keeping units (SKUs) and has reduced 13 categories of the current 217 SKUs. The technical working group plans to publish the final catalog within two months.
In the meantime, Nograles said DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual said At our recent meeting. We called on e-marketplace participants to use the 18-month transition period provided by the ITA to ensure that they are complying with the legal requirements of the vape Act.
The DTI said that only those businesses that can show the E-Commerce Agency evidence of compliance with the legal requirements will be allowed to sell online. The law prohibits the sale of e-cigarette brands, advertising, and sales to minors.
According to Nograles. DTI observed that most brick-and-mortar stores follow the vape law, while violations are more prevalent on the Internet.
“We need a solution where we can remove the posts (from online merchants), but they are huge.”
She added that the law prohibits the sale of regulated products online. But in the case of vapes, two criteria need to be met.
First, the online business must hold licenses and permits. And registrations to sell vapes, second, there must be a contract between the online business and the marketplace stating that both parties should abide by sales restrictions. Such as a strict ban on sales to minors.
To ensure that they are selling sensible brands of vapes. E-marketplaces are encouraged to conduct internal inspections and clean up their vendor catalogs.
The transition period will end in June 2025.
