House OKs bill regulating use, sale of e-cigarettes on 3rd and final reading

The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on third and final reading House Bill 9007, which regulates the trade, manufacture, and use of e-cigarettes.

With 192 voting in the affirmative, 34 in the negative, and four in abstention, the chamber passed the "Non- Combustible Nicotine Delivery Systems Regulation Act," which sets the minimum allowable age for the purchase, sale, and use of such products to 18 years old.

The bill also allows online promotions for selling e-cigarettes as long as the seller shall make safeguards to ensure that access will be restricted to those customers who are aged 18 and above.

Bayan Muna party-list Representative Eufemia Cullamat, who voted in the negative, raised the alarm that the bill will make e-cigarettes "more accessible" to the vulnerable sector.

After the approval of the bill, Kabataan party-list Representative Sara Jane Elago said they are "gravely concerned" over the passage of the measure, adding that they prefer to raise the minimum age for sale and purchase of e-cigarettes to 25 years old.

"Kabataan partylist strongly opposes lowering the legal age of access from 21 to 18 years old," said Elago, who also voted against the bill, during the session.

Elago said they are hoping the provisions in the bill may still be amended during the bicameral conference committee.

Muntinlupa Representative Ruffy Biazon, who also voted against the measure, said the bill "turned into trade and industry measure" instead of a "health measure."

"This bill does not protect the youth from nicotine abuse and addiction because of its permissiveness in online trading which IT experts said cannot protect the youth from access," Biazon said.

In February 2020, President Rodrigo Duterte issued an executive order banning vaping in public as well as sale and manufacture of unregistered e-cigarettes because of its health risks.

Under Executive Order 106, vaping is allowed in a building or conveyance which may either be an open space or separate area, provided that there is proper ventilation. Minors are also prohibited from entering a designated vaping area.—KBK, GMA News