Philippine Tax Bureau Cracks Down on Vape Store Selling Illicit Products

Nov.21.2024

Philippine Tax Bureau Cracks Down on Vape Store Selling Illicit Products

BIR raided a Quezon City vape store offering illicit products through a secret menu. Authorities found unstamped vapes stored in a warehouse and emphasized intensifying efforts against illegal sales.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Tuesday raided a vape store in Quezon City that allegedly offered a "secret menu" of illicit vape products, Business Insight reported on November 21.

In a statement released on Wednesday (the 20th), the BIR revealed that the raid led by Director Romeo Lumagui Jr. uncovered that the illicit products listed on the "menu" were not displayed in the store but hidden in a warehouse behind it.

"The vape store displayed legal vape, but once you ask for illicit vape, they will bring the "menu" and get the illicit vape from the bodega," Lumagui said.

In addition, the store was found selling vapes without internal revenue stamps and failing to provide an official receipt for purchases of the illicit products.

The bureau stated that details of the seized products and raided establishments from the nationwide operation are being consolidated.

BIR Commissioner Lumagui emphasized that the agency will intensify its crackdown on sellers of illicit vape products and urged the public to report such retailers or resellers.

References:

[1] BIR raids vape store with secret menu

Also Read:

[1] Philippine Finance Department: Tobacco and E-cigarette Smuggling Costs $900 Million Annually

[2] Philippine BIR to Intensify Crackdown on Illegal E-cigarette Market as Revenue Falls Short

[3] Philippines BIR E-Cigarette Tax Revenue Reaches $17M, Covers Less Than 10-20% of Market

[4] Philippines Seizes $80M in Illegal Vapes Over 10 Months

[5] Philippines BIR seizes over 500 illegal e-cigarette retailers with $3.09 million in tax liabilities

[6] Philippine President invited to international tobacco summit to focus on fight against illicit tobacco trade

#Legislation #Asia #Open system e-cigarettes #Philippines

China Tobacco Regulation Shift：Policy Updates and Market Impact

China Tobacco Regulation Shift：Policy Updates and Market Impact

RLX Technology Dropped From FTSE All-World as International Business Reaches 68.5% of Q2 Revenue

RLX Technology Dropped From FTSE All-World as International Business Reaches 68.5% of Q2 Revenue

RLX Technology (NYSE: RLX) has been removed from the FTSE All-World Index, effective September 21. FTSE Russell records show RLX was already part of its global equity index universe by 2022, when its American depositary receipts were classified as China Large Cap securities. Trading volume rose to about 44.77 million shares on September 18, roughly 23 times the previous session's volume. RLX reported RMB1.0105 billion in second-quarter revenue, up 14.8% year over year, with international operations contributing 68.5%. The company also acquired a 51% stake in one of Western Europe's largest distributors of next-generation smoke-free and FMCG products in July.

Australia Extends Illicit Tobacco Crackdown From Tougher Penalties to Customs and Logistics Supply Chains

Australia Extends Illicit Tobacco Crackdown From Tougher Penalties to Customs and Logistics Supply Chains

Australia's federal government introduced a new illicit tobacco enforcement bill on September 10 that would strengthen evidentiary presumptions, representative sampling, seizure and forfeiture procedures, proceeds-of-crime powers and obligations for customs and logistics operators. The proposal follows the Combatting Illicit Tobacco Act 2026, which took effect in August and increased penalties while expanding investigative and asset-recovery tools. Together, the reforms extend Australia's crackdown from tougher criminal sanctions into import, logistics and evidentiary enforcement.

As JUUL2 Wins FDA Authorization, Harm Reduction Journal Highlights the Role of Real-World Evidence in Nicotine Product Regulation

As JUUL2 Wins FDA Authorization, Harm Reduction Journal Highlights the Role of Real-World Evidence in Nicotine Product Regulation

A commentary published in the international open-access, peer-reviewed Harm Reduction Journal argues that randomized controlled trials remain central to evaluating smoking cessation efficacy but cannot alone capture real-world uptake, complete switching, longer-term use and population impact of non-combustible nicotine products such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches. The authors frame impact as “reach × efficacy” and call for real-world evidence to complement RCTs. Three days after publication, the FDA authorized three JUUL2 products and highlighted complete switching among adult smokers in explaining its decision, providing a timely regulatory backdrop to the debate.

UK Vape Maker Riot Enters Clacton By-Election to Fight Government 'White Packaging' Proposals

UK Vape Maker Riot Enters Clacton By-Election to Fight Government 'White Packaging' Proposals

British e-liquid manufacturer Riot Labs has introduced a fictional “candidate” called Riot Man around the Clacton parliamentary by-election, seeking to mobilize consumers and retailers against parts of the UK government’s proposed restrictions on vape packaging, device appearance and retail displays. Riot Man is not listed as an official candidate.

Smoore Seeks to Toss CCELL Price-Fixing Claim as Court Weighs Vertical Distribution Versus Horizontal Conspiracy

Smoore Seeks to Toss CCELL Price-Fixing Claim as Court Weighs Vertical Distribution Versus Horizontal Conspiracy

Smoore and four authorized U.S. CCELL distributors are asking a California federal court to permanently dismiss a core antitrust claim brought by direct purchasers. Plaintiffs allege that Smoore coordinated minimum wholesale prices, customer allocation and limits on price competition among distributors, amounting to a per se unlawful horizontal conspiracy. The defendants say the alleged conduct reflects ordinary vertical relationships between a manufacturer and its distributors. The court previously dismissed a similar claim, and the latest dispute centers on whether the second amended complaint adds sufficient facts to establish a horizontal agreement.

Germany's Four-Year Tobacco Tax Plan Heads to Parliament as BAT, JTI and PMI Push for Changes

Germany's Four-Year Tobacco Tax Plan Heads to Parliament as BAT, JTI and PMI Push for Changes

Germany's parliament is scheduled to hold a first reading of amendments to the Tobacco Tax Act on September 24. The government plans annual tax increases from 2027 through 2030 covering cigarettes, heated tobacco, vaping liquids and other categories. It expects the reform to generate €756 million in additional revenue in 2027, rising to €3.589 billion in additional annual revenue by 2030. Ahead of the parliamentary debate, the German Association of the Tobacco Industry and Novel Products, or BVTE, launched the "Tabaksteuer mit Augenmaß" campaign backed by BAT, JTI, Philip Morris, Reemtsma and wholesale and retail groups.

Related Topics

News Regulation

Related Read

RLX Technology Dropped From FTSE All-World as International Business Reaches 68.5% of Q2 Revenue

RLX Technology Dropped From FTSE All-World as International Business Reaches 68.5% of Q2 Revenue

Australia Extends Illicit Tobacco Crackdown From Tougher Penalties to Customs and Logistics Supply Chains

Australia Extends Illicit Tobacco Crackdown From Tougher Penalties to Customs and Logistics Supply Chains

As JUUL2 Wins FDA Authorization, Harm Reduction Journal Highlights the Role of Real-World Evidence in Nicotine Product Regulation

As JUUL2 Wins FDA Authorization, Harm Reduction Journal Highlights the Role of Real-World Evidence in Nicotine Product Regulation

UK Vape Maker Riot Enters Clacton By-Election to Fight Government 'White Packaging' Proposals

UK Vape Maker Riot Enters Clacton By-Election to Fight Government 'White Packaging' Proposals

Smoore Seeks to Toss CCELL Price-Fixing Claim as Court Weighs Vertical Distribution Versus Horizontal Conspiracy

Smoore Seeks to Toss CCELL Price-Fixing Claim as Court Weighs Vertical Distribution Versus Horizontal Conspiracy

Germany's Four-Year Tobacco Tax Plan Heads to Parliament as BAT, JTI and PMI Push for Changes

Germany's Four-Year Tobacco Tax Plan Heads to Parliament as BAT, JTI and PMI Push for Changes