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Tag: Philippines

  • Caloocan City Adopts Anti-Illicit Tobacco Ordinance

    Caloocan City Adopts Anti-Illicit Tobacco Ordinance

    Caloocan City, Philippines, enacted City Ordinance No. 1193, Series of 2026—the Anti-Illicit Tobacco Trade Ordinance—becoming the first local government unit in Metro Manila to formally prohibit the manufacture, distribution, and sale of tobacco products that do not comply with national regulations. Mayor Dale Gonzalo Malapitan said the measure targets cigarettes lacking Internal Revenue stamps, graphic health warnings, or those sold below government-mandated pricing, with penalties that include fines, business permit suspension or revocation, and imprisonment of up to one year. The city’s Business Permits and Licensing Office has been directed to enforce compliance among retailers.

    Orlando Oxales, convenor of CitizenWatch Philippines, called the move “strong and timely,” noting similar local actions this year in Mariveles, Bataan, and ongoing discussions in Davao City aimed at strengthening anti-illicit trade enforcement at the LGU level.

  • Philippines’ Health Renews Total Vape Ban Push

    Philippines’ Health Renews Total Vape Ban Push

    The Philippine Department of Health renewed its call for a total ban on vaping products, citing public health risks and positioning prohibition as the most straightforward and cost-effective solution. While a full ban is not yet in place, the agency is urging stricter enforcement of existing regulations under the Vape Regulation Act, particularly provisions restricting flavored products that may appeal to minors.

    The DOH pointed to regional precedents, noting that several neighboring Asian countries have already implemented comprehensive vape bans. In the interim, officials are prioritizing the removal of flavored vape products from the market, emphasizing that flavor descriptors linked to fruits, candy, desserts, or cartoon imagery are considered to disproportionately attract youth.

  • Philippines Advocates Alleging Violations from Zyn, IQOS

    Philippines Advocates Alleging Violations from Zyn, IQOS

    Anti-smoking groups in the Philippines are calling on the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to act on complaints alleging violations of the Vape Regulation Act of 2022 by brands including Zyn and IQOS, according to the Sun Star. Advocacy organizations claim the products were promoted at public events such as the Sinulog Festival and through collaborations with artists, which they say are prohibited under the law that bans sponsorships and celebrity endorsements tied to nicotine products.

    Additional concerns were raised over product compliance, with some groups alleging that Zyn nicotine pouches are being sold without proper registration. The DTI, which has jurisdiction over vape-related regulation, is being urged to investigate and enforce existing rules, as advocates warn that continued non-compliance could increase youth exposure and undermine public health protections.

  • Philippines’ NTA Addressing Tobacco Market Pressures

    Philippines’ NTA Addressing Tobacco Market Pressures

    The National Tobacco Administration (NTA) convened stakeholders in Ilocos Norte to address mounting challenges in the tobacco sector, including falling farmgate prices, oversupply, and ongoing smuggling. The meeting brought together local governments, traders, and farmer groups to assess market conditions and explore coordinated responses as global and domestic supply pressures weigh on pricing and demand.

    Officials highlighted a sharp drop in leaf prices—from over ₱100 ($1.60) per kilo to around ₱75 ($1.20)—along with rising production costs and delayed support funding. Farmers also pointed to difficulties in selling uncontracted crops amid excess supply both locally and globally. In response, the NTA is pushing for expanded contract-growing arrangements and crop diversification strategies, while stakeholders are committed to improving coordination and market access to stabilize the sector.

  • Philippines: Latest Crackdown Sinks $13M Illicit Operation

    Philippines: Latest Crackdown Sinks $13M Illicit Operation

    Philippine authorities dismantled a large-scale illegal cigarette manufacturing and distribution operation, seizing nearly 800 million pesos ($13 million) worth of raw materials and equipment. The Philippine National Police said the network had been operating since the third quarter of 2025 and was part of a broader illicit trade impacting government revenues.

    Officials warned that such operations significantly reduce excise tax collections intended for public services, including healthcare. Authorities have already taken similar enforcement actions in Luzon and plan to expand crackdowns to the Visayas region as part of ongoing efforts to combat the illicit tobacco trade.

  • Philippines Warns of Tobacco Oversupply, Moves to Stabilize Market

    Philippines Warns of Tobacco Oversupply, Moves to Stabilize Market

    The Philippines’ National Tobacco Administration raised concerns over a potential oversupply of flue-cured Virginia tobacco as the trading season opens in the Ilocos Region and Abra, after several local government units reportedly encouraged farmers to expand production without formal marketing agreements. Of the country’s 45,000 registered tobacco growers, only 10,000 are covered under the Tobacco Contract Growing System, leaving thousands exposed to uncertain market access and pricing pressure.

    To manage the surplus risk, NTA Administrator Belinda Sanchez is convening meetings with local governments, traders, and farmer leaders, while lobbying manufacturers to prioritize locally grown leaf over imports during the 2026 trading season. The agency says stronger coordination is needed to prevent market gluts that could hurt farmer incomes.

    At the same time, NTA branch offices have been tasked with mediating grading and pricing disputes at trading centers, after reports that some tobacco leaves were being misclassified or rejected. Buying stations run by Universal Leaf Philippines Inc., Trans Manila Inc., and Continental Leaf remain open to receive farmers’ crops across the Ilocos provinces.

  • Philippines Bust Seizes $23M in Illicit Vape Products

    Philippines Bust Seizes $23M in Illicit Vape Products

    The Philippines Department of Trade and Industry and the Bureau of Customs seized P1.4 billion ($23.3 million) worth of illegal vaporized nicotine products in a warehouse raid in San Rafael Village, Navotas City, confiscating over 3.2 million vape devices and pods along with branded promotional items. The shipments lacked Philippine Standard Licenses and Import Commodity Clearance, violating Republic Act 11900 and related Customs regulations, and are now subject to forfeiture and condemnation proceedings to prevent reentry into the market. Authorities warned that violators may face substantial fines, imprisonment, revocation of licenses, and recall of noncompliant products.

  • Philippines Calling on Locals to Curb Tobacco Smuggling

    Philippines Calling on Locals to Curb Tobacco Smuggling

    The Philippines’ National Tobacco Administration called on local government units to intensify enforcement against cigarette smuggling, which the Bureau of Internal Revenue estimates is costing the country between P40 billion and P52 billion ($680–$884 million) annually. The push follows recent seizures, including a March 17 operation in Maguindanao del Norte that recovered P6.46 million ($110,000) worth of illicit cigarettes, underscoring the scale of the problem.

    NTA Administrator Belinda S. Sanchez warned that smuggling threatens public health, government revenue, and the livelihoods of around 2.2 million farmers and workers. Authorities, including the Philippine National Police, are ramping up joint operations, with nearly P3 billion ($51 million) in illicit products seized in late 2025, while reminding retailers that violations under the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act of 2024 can carry life imprisonment and heavy fines.

  • Philippines Cracking Down on Flavored Vape Products

    Philippines Cracking Down on Flavored Vape Products

    Philippine regulators have intensified enforcement against illegal vape products, with the Department of Trade and Industry stating that flavored products appealing to minors — such as those with dessert or cartoon-themed descriptors — have failed the government’s licensing process and are therefore considered smuggled. Under Republic Act 11900, only plain tobacco and menthol flavors are permitted, alongside strict rules on marketing and youth access. Authorities reported a sharp rise in seizures of illicit vape products, reaching P519 million ($8.8 million) in 2024, highlighting the scale of non-compliance in the market.

    Enforcement efforts have expanded to include coordinated raids, online monitoring, and legal action against major digital platforms such as Meta, Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok for allegedly enabling the promotion of unlicensed products. Regulators warn that continued non-cooperation could result in stricter penalties, including potential shutdowns, as the government pushes to tighten compliance through licensing requirements for vape sales and advertising.

  • Philippine Farmers Hail Illicit Tobacco Crackdown

    Philippine Farmers Hail Illicit Tobacco Crackdown

    Farmers in the Philippines and local business groups welcomed the government’s intensified crackdown on illicit tobacco manufacturing and smuggling, following a series of enforcement operations. Organizations, including the Federation of Free Farmers, Federation of Philippine Industries, and the British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines said recent raids and factory shutdowns send a strong signal that authorities are serious about protecting legitimate businesses, government revenues, and farmers’ livelihoods. The comments followed law enforcement actions that uncovered several abandoned illegal cigarette factories in Pampanga and seized equipment and materials valued at about ₱400 million ($6.8 million).

    Officials said the illegal facilities were capable of producing cigarettes worth up to ₱160 million per day. Authorities estimate that illegal cigarette production and smuggling cost the Philippine government around ₱30 billion ($510 million) in lost excise taxes in 2025 alone. Department of the Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla warned that some illicit operations may have political or institutional backers, while enforcement agencies continue investigations to identify financiers and operators behind the networks.