FDA imposes measure regulating production, use of e-cigarettes, vaping products

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is imposing a measure regulating the production and sale of e-cigarettes and vaping products in order to discourage minors from using them.

FDA Center for Cosmetics Regulations and Research head Engineer Ana Rivera said this on Sunday after the Department of Health said it wants to regulate the use and sale of e-cigarettes and vaporizer products in the country.

In a Dobol B sa News TV interview, Rivera said the FDA issued on June 14 an administrative order (AO) providing for the revised rules and regulations on e-cigarettes and electronic nicotine delivery devices which she said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has already signed.

The AO mandates manufacturers, traders, distributors and retailers of e-cigarettes to apply for a license to operate with the FDA.

"Kapag nakakuha na sila ng license to operate, puwede na nilang i-register 'yung kanilang mga e-juice at ang kanilang device," Rivera said.

According to Rivera, entities involved in the e-cigarette industry would have to get a certificate of compliance first from the Department of Trade and Industry.

Then, the said certificate from the DTI would have to be submitted to FDA, which will look into the migration of metals, she added.

Rivera said e-cigarette manufacturers applying for a license to operate would have to pay a fee of P15,000; distributors and trailers, P10,000; and retailers, P5,000.

Meanwhile, the payment for registration of e-juice is P5,000 and P10,000 for the device itself, she added.

Rivera said they imposed a relatively hefty amount for the licenses and registration so that these products would not be easily accessible to minors.

"Ang part ng FDA ay para hindi maging accessible at available sa mga teenagers na kakayanin nila [na bilhin], katulad ng sigarilyo na kaya nilang bilhin sa kanilang pocket money. Iniiwasan natin na magkaroon ng access ang mga bata sa ganitong mga produkto," she said.

"Ang mga minors, mga kabataan ang tinitignan namin na hindi makabili ng ganitong mga produkto," she added.

Last week, the House of Representatives also approved on final reading House Bill 1026 seeking to increase taxes on e-cigarettes, vaping and alcohol products, in a bid to abate its consumption.

Revenues collected from the implementation of the measure would be used to fund the Universal Health Care law. —KG, GMA News