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Tag: Philippines

  • Philippines Hosting Third International Tobacco Summit

    Philippines Hosting Third International Tobacco Summit

    The Philippines will convene the Third International Tobacco Summit on June 18 in Pasig City with the stated goal of strengthening coordination against the illicit tobacco and nicotine trade. Citing an EU–ASEAN Business Council and Euromonitor study, officials estimate the country lost about ₱141 billion ($2.4 billion) in revenue from illicit tobacco between 2024 and 2025, with 85.6% of e-vapes sold in the Philippines classified as illegal.

    The summit will focus on enforcement gaps, taxation issues, regulatory coordination, and regional cooperation among ASEAN states, alongside a planned joint commitment by government agencies to intensify action against illicit operators. The Department of Agriculture and the National Tobacco Administration, along with the Bureau of Customs, Philippine National Police, Department of Justice, and other agencies, are expected to participate.

  • Philippine Health Groups Call for Science in Nicotine Control

    Philippine Health Groups Call for Science in Nicotine Control

    Health advocates, academics, and industry representatives urged Philippine lawmakers to base proposed amendments to Republic Act 11900 on scientific evidence, while stepping up enforcement against illegal vape products during a recent Senate hearing. Stakeholders argued that regulations should balance youth protection with access to smoke-free alternatives for adult smokers.

    Dr. Lorenzo Mata of Quit for Good said strict safeguards, including age restrictions and product standards, remain essential, while Professor Michael Eric Castillo of CAPS and Partners cautioned that overly restrictive rules could drive consumers toward the illicit market. The growth of unauthorized vape sales emerged as a key issue, with participants calling for stronger enforcement as the Senate reviews potential changes to the country’s vape law.

  • Zyn Expanding Flavors in the Philippines

    Zyn Expanding Flavors in the Philippines

    Philip Morris International expanded its Zyn nicotine pouch portfolio in the Philippines with the introduction of new variants, including Cool Breeze in a 1.5mg strength and the Tropical flavor in 3mg and 6mg strengths. The update broadens the brand’s existing strength architecture in the market, which now spans 1.5mg, 3mg and 6mg across multiple flavors listed on its official Philippines website.

    According to the company, the 1.5mg Cool Breeze variant is positioned as a lower-strength option aimed at adult nicotine consumers who are new to nicotine pouches, while higher strengths will continue to serve existing users. The Tropical flavor is currently available in 3mg and 6mg formats, further expanding ZYN’s flavor range in the Philippines.

    The Philippine portfolio also includes several flavors such as Fresh Breeze, Dark Purple, and Espressino across different nicotine strengths.

  • Philippines Flagged ‘Elevated Risk’ for Illicit Cigarettes as Price Gaps Grow

    Philippines Flagged ‘Elevated Risk’ for Illicit Cigarettes as Price Gaps Grow

    The Philippines has been identified as an “elevated risk” market for illicit cigarettes, with illegal products accounting for 25.3% of total sales last year and projected to rise to 28.9% by 2028, according to a Euromonitor International study commissioned by the EU-ASEAN Business Council. The report estimates the government lost nearly $980 million in 2024 and about $1.1 billion last year due to the illicit cigarette trade, while illegal e-vapes, which make up 86% of the market, caused an additional P23 billion ($400 million) in losses from 2024 to 2025.

    Researchers cited price-sensitive consumers, porous maritime borders, established regional smuggling routes, annual excise tax hikes of 5%, and enforcement challenges as key drivers, with illicit products increasingly imported from neighboring ASEAN states and China. The study also highlighted the growing role of digital platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp, and Facebook Marketplace in distributing illegal tobacco, alongside traditional sari-sari stores and street vendors, and warned that paper-based tax stamps are easily counterfeited, recommending a shift toward digital tax verification systems to better protect revenues and track the trade.

  • 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.