Licensing required

The Philippines will mandate licensing for all makers, sellers and distributors of e-cigarettes and vaporizers under the new guidelines covering the sector, reports The Business World.

On June 9, the Department of Health issued an administrative order requiring all participants in the vapor business to obtain a license from the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The obligation pertains also to products without nicotine.

The FDA said it hopes to ban refills formulated to appeal to young users and will require tamper-resistant packaging and health warnings for refills and devices.

Users are also prohibited from vaping in public, which is allowed only in designated vaping areas.

Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez meanwhile called for more consultation with the industry, which he said has the potential to generate jobs.