3 senators back proposed ban on disposable vapes

Senators Pia Cayetano, JV Ejercito, and Christopher ''Bong'' Go have expressed support for the proposal to ban the sale of disposable vapes in the Philippines.

Cayetano, who advocated against the passage of Republic Act 11900 or the Vape Law, emphasized the adverse health and environmental effects of these disposable vapes.

"I support the banning of disposable vapes...Vapes are very dangerous...Do not buy the argument that it is safer for you or healthier. There is no scientific proof yet that it is safe for you," Cayetano, vice chairperson of the Senate health committee, said.

"This disposable is even worse for the environment because you throw it away after using it, similar to the single-use plastic bag, right? The young people already know. The young people on their own are doing their part in not contributing to the garbage," she added.

Ejercito, who is also a vice chairman of the committee, also backed the proposal, noting the Department of Finance's position that most disposable vapes are unregistered and do not pay excise taxes, which is mandated under the law.

"Hindi pala nagbabayad ng tax. That's already a blatant violation. Kumbaga smuggled lahat yan...Talagang dapat i-ban na yan. Unang-una, it's unhealthy tapos hindi pa nagbabayad ng tax," Ejercito said.

(They are not paying taxes, and that's already a blatant violation of the law. These disposable vapes will be considered smuggled. It should really be banned because it's unhealthy and they are not paying taxes.) 

Go echoed the sentiments of his two colleagues.

"Most of these are sold online, without assurance that they are not being sold to minors. They are highly unregulated, and we do not know if these products are safe to use, potentially risking our people's health. Moreover, given its unregulated sale online which are mostly not taxed, such practice deprives the government of its rightful revenue," said Go, who chairs the Senate health committee.

He also urged the Department of Trade and Industry to study possible measures to ensure that the sale of vapes complies with Philippine laws and regulations.

"Kaya nga meron tayong vape law upang masiguro nating ligtas ang mga ibinebentang vapes sa mga users na nasa tamang edad lamang. Kung hahayaan nating ibenta ito online, wala tayong kasiguruhan na hindi nakakabili ang mga menor na edad," he said.

(We have a vape law to ensure vapes are sold to users who are of the right age. If we allow it to be sold online, we have no assurance that minors will not be able to purchase it.)

Earlier this week, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto floated the possibility of banning the sale of disposable vapes in the Philippines.

This proposal was supported by the Department of Health, emphasizing that all vape products in general result in significant health risks, including e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI), nicotine addiction, and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

A disposable vape is a non-rechargeable device that comes pre-charged and pre-filled with liquid. It does not require recharging or refilling.

Bureau of Internal Revenue regulations mandate a P52 per milliliter tax for nicotine salt/salt-freebase, such as disposable vapes. For conventional freebase nicotine variants, the tax is lower at P60 per 10 milliliters.

Disposable vapes are being sold at online marketplaces for over P120 to more than P430 per device. —with Jamil Santos/VBL, GMA Integrated News