SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro โ The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reiterated the suspension of online selling e-cigarette products, commonly known as vape, to protect minors from the dangers of smoking.
This is anchored on DTI Department Order 22-16, stating under Rule V that โThe minimum allowable age for the purchase, sale, and use of Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products, their devices, or Novel Tobacco Products shall be eighteen (18) years old.โ
DTI Provincial Director Noel D. Flores explained that this directive aims to ensure that vape products will not be available to minors, as there is no way for sellers to prove their customersโ age in an online transaction.
Consequently, selling the FLAVA brand of e-cigarettes and its other products is banned on any platform, online and in-store, as the said brand is illegally imported without proper tax payment.
โ Yung FLAVA vape products dito po sa marketโฆonline man yan o yung may mga physical storeโฆappeared to be illegally imported and without proper tax payment kaya naman po itong FLAVA ay napakamurang bilihin nung mga tumatangkilik po sa produkto po na ito,โ Flores said.
(FLAVA vape products in the market, whether online or in the physical stores, appeared to be legally imported without proper tax payment making FLAVA the cheapest option available for vape users.)
The said brand also violated Section 12 of Republic Act 11900 or the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act as FLAVA sold vape products with candy and fruit flavors appealing to minors.
The DTI Regional Monitoring Enforcement Team has already confiscated P40,000 worth of FLAVA products in the municipality of San Jose. Flores said that their team will intensify their efforts to implement the law in the province. (DSG/PIA MIMAROPA โ Occidental Mindoro)
