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Tag: Philippines

  • Philippines Customs Battling Seized-Cigarette Theft

    Philippines Customs Battling Seized-Cigarette Theft

    The Philippines’ Bureau of Customs adopted a one-strike policy for personnel caught stealing or improperly handling confiscated cigarettes, following reports of attempts to divert seized tobacco products. Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said employees found violating the policy will be immediately removed from service and face administrative, civil, and criminal proceedings.

    Under the directive, seized cigarettes cannot be transferred, relocated, or disposed of without the commissioner’s written approval. Nepomuceno also ordered the BOC’s Internal Administration Group to recommend stronger safeguards for confiscated tobacco products at ports, emphasizing that the goods are critical evidence in the agency’s efforts to combat illicit trade and protect government revenue.

  • Philippines Requires Nicotine Companies to Register Brands

    Philippines Requires Nicotine Companies to Register Brands

    The Philippine Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) gave manufacturers, importers, and exporters of tobacco and vapor products six months to register their brands and product variants under Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 86-2026, published July 31. The requirement covers cigarettes, heated tobacco products, vapor products, novel tobacco products, cigars, smoking tobacco products, and chewing tobacco products, with companies that fail to comply subject to penalties.

    The updated BIR registry includes 192 entries across 14 manufacturer, importer, and exporter classifications, including 84 vapor product entries, 43 cigarette-related entries, and listings for heated tobacco, novel tobacco products, cigars, chewing tobacco, and smoking tobacco. The BIR said registered products must also comply with graphic health warning requirements and, where applicable, the affixing of BIR tax stamps, although IRSIS stamps are not yet available for novel tobacco products, cigars, smoking tobacco, and chewing tobacco products.

  • Officials Urge Philippines to Prioritize Smoke- and Vape-Free Spaces

    Officials Urge Philippines to Prioritize Smoke- and Vape-Free Spaces

    Local government officials across the Philippines are calling on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to certify as urgent House Bill 9603, the proposed Smoke-Free and Vape-Free Environment Act, ahead of his State of the Nation Address. The bill would establish national standards for smoke- and vape-free public spaces and workplaces, strengthen enforcement, and provide funding for local implementation, while not banning cigarettes or vaping products outright.

    The proposal is backed by governors, mayors, and health officials who argue national legislation is needed to reinforce local smoke-free ordinances. Supporters also want the removal of indoor smoking and vaping areas, expanded smoke-free zones, stronger enforcement mechanisms and increased penalties for violations. The push comes four years after the Philippines’ Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act took effect and amid ongoing debate over youth vaping and secondhand smoke exposure.

  • Filipino Leaders Press for Smoke-Free Bill

    Filipino Leaders Press for Smoke-Free Bill

    A coalition of Philippine local government leaders is urging President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to certify House Bill 9603, the Smoke-Free and Vape-Free Environment Bill, as urgent legislation. The proposed measure would establish a nationwide ban on smoking and vaping in indoor public spaces and workplaces, building on smoke-free ordinances already adopted by several cities and provinces.

    Supporters say the bill would strengthen enforcement, expand smoke-free zones, fund cessation programs, and create incentives for local governments that effectively implement tobacco and vaping control measures.

  • JTI Backs Philippines’ Market Stabilization Strategy

    JTI Backs Philippines’ Market Stabilization Strategy

    Japan Tobacco International (JTI) endorsed the NTA’s Strategic Tobacco Production Information Campaign (STRATPIC), which aims to align tobacco production with global demand and discourage oversupply ahead of the 2026-2027 planting season. JTI said the initiative will support the industry’s long-term sustainability by helping farmers avoid market disruptions, while emphasizing that data-driven planning, stakeholder collaboration, and a stable policy environment are essential to protecting farmer livelihoods and encouraging continued investment in the Philippine tobacco sector.

  • PMFTC Remains Top Buyer of Philippine Tobacco

    PMFTC Remains Top Buyer of Philippine Tobacco

    Philippines’ National Tobacco Administration (NTA) recognized Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corporation as the largest buyer of Philippine-grown tobacco for the third consecutive year, highlighting the company’s continued support for the country’s tobacco farming sector. In 2025, PMFTC purchased 8.3 million kg of locally grown tobacco — 69% of the 12.1 million kilograms delivered to domestic manufacturers. NTA Administrator Belinda Sanchez said PMFTC’s sustained buying provides tobacco farmers with a stable and reliable market, particularly as the industry prepares for a challenging growing season.

    PMFTC said it remains committed to investing in long-term partnerships with farmers, trading partners, and government agencies to strengthen the Philippine tobacco value chain and help keep locally grown tobacco competitive in domestic and international markets.

  • Philippine Tax Hikes Reduced Revenue, Fueled Illicits: Economist

    Philippine Tax Hikes Reduced Revenue, Fueled Illicits: Economist

    American economist Arthur Laffer said the Philippines may have reached the point where continued increases in tobacco excise taxes are reducing government revenue while accelerating illicit cigarette trade. Citing government data, Laffer said tobacco excise collections peaked at PHP176 billion ($2.8 billion) in 2021 before declining to PHP134 billion ($2.1 billion) in 2024 despite ongoing annual tax increases, arguing the trend reflects the “Laffer Curve” effect.

    He also referenced a University of Asia and the Pacific study estimating illicit cigarette trade cost the government PHP22 billion ($352 million) in lost tax revenue and contributed to broader economic losses. Laffer urged policymakers to adopt a data-driven approach that balances public health and fiscal objectives, including lower tax rates for smoke-free nicotine products to encourage adult smokers to switch while helping curb the illicit market.

  • Philippines Tightening Controls on Growers After 27% Surplus

    Philippines Tightening Controls on Growers After 27% Surplus

    The Philippine National Tobacco Administration (NTA) is tightening production controls for the 2026-2027 planting season following a tobacco leaf surplus in the previous crop year. Citing a volatile global buyers’ market, NTA Administrator Belinda Sanchez said the agency will emphasize contract growing, premium leaf quality, and production aligned with market demand to protect growers from oversupply and rejected crops.

    The NTA is encouraging the country’s approximately 35,000 uncontracted tobacco farmers to join its Tobacco Contract Growing System, after reporting that flue-cured Virginia tobacco production exceeded purchase commitments by about 27% (5 million kg) last season. The agency is also promoting soil-area matching requirements to improve leaf quality and better meet buyer specifications.

  • Philippine Authorities Pushing for Tougher Penalties in Illicit Tobacco Fight

    Philippine Authorities Pushing for Tougher Penalties in Illicit Tobacco Fight

    Philippine lawmakers and prosecutors are calling for stronger prosecution efforts to combat the country’s growing illicit tobacco trade, arguing that product seizures alone have failed to deter organized criminal networks. Speaking at the Third International Tobacco Summit, House Public Order and Safety Committee Chair Rolando Valeriano urged law enforcement to prioritize securing convictions, while noting that illicit trade remains highly profitable if offenders are not held accountable. The push comes as a recent EU-ASEAN Business Council and Euromonitor International study estimated the Philippines lost about ₱141 billion ($2.3 billion) in tax revenue over the past two years due to illicit tobacco products, with illegal products accounting for roughly one-quarter of cigarette sales and more than 80% of vape sales.

    Officials also highlighted proposals for an Anti-Illicit Trade law that would strengthen prosecutions, improve interagency coordination, and introduce track-and-trace technology, while prosecutors acknowledged that many existing cases require additional evidence before they can proceed to trial.

  • Philippines Seizes $48M in Illegal Cigarettes

    Philippines Seizes $48M in Illegal Cigarettes

    Philippine authorities are preparing to destroy more than ₱3 billion ($48 million) worth of smuggled cigarettes after seizing 59 container vans of the Modern Gia brand in coordinated operations across Cebu and Manila. The Bureau of Customs and the National Bureau of Investigation said the shipment, believed to have originated in China, is one of the country’s largest cigarette smuggling busts this year and announced plans to file multiple criminal charges against those involved, including financiers and organizers, under customs, tax, anti-economic sabotage, and potential intellectual property laws.

    Officials said the cigarettes will be shredded rather than auctioned to prevent them from re-entering the market, while investigations continue into the shipment’s origins, associated companies, and any public officials who may have facilitated the operation.