Philippines Considers Banning Sale of Unregistered Disposables

Regulations by 2FIRSTS.ai
Mar.06.2024
Philippines Considers Banning Sale of Unregistered Disposables
Philippine Finance Minister Ralph Recto proposed banning the sale of disposable e-cigarettes due to safety and tax concerns.

According to a report by Filipino media outlet Gmanetwork GMA, on March 4th, Filipino Finance Minister Ralph Recto proposed the sale of disposable e-cigarettes in the Philippines. He stated that most of these products are unregistered.

 

I believe we should ban the sale of disposable e-cigarette products. The vast majority, if not all, of disposable e-cigarette products are not registered with the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry in the Philippines) and have not paid consumption taxes.

 

However, Rekto revealed that he has not yet informed the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) about the recommendation to ban disposable e-cigarettes. The agency is responsible for regulating e-cigarettes and other new tobacco products.

 

We do not know if these unregulated products are safe. They are not taxed and attract minors to purchase them.

 

Rekto stated that if disposable e-cigarette manufacturers fully comply with their tax obligations, the selling price of their devices should not be lower than 3000 pesos (53.57 US dollars) each. Currently, disposable e-cigarettes are being sold online for prices ranging from 120 pesos (2.14 US dollars) to 430 pesos (7.68 US dollars) each.

 

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

ELURA Founder and Former BAT Design Head Jonathon Lister Speaks at 2Firsts Global NGP Rethink Forum
ELURA Founder and Former BAT Design Head Jonathon Lister Speaks at 2Firsts Global NGP Rethink Forum
ELURA founder and former BAT Head of Product and User Experience Design, Jonathon Lister, delivered a keynote speech titled “Rethinking the Design of Next Generation Tobacco Products” at the 2Firsts Global NGP Rethink Forum in Shenzhen.
Jul.28 by 2FIRSTS.ai
U.S. Fifth Circuit Court Rejects Shenzhen Youme’s Appeal, Upholds Sales Ban on “Suorin Air”
U.S. Fifth Circuit Court Rejects Shenzhen Youme’s Appeal, Upholds Sales Ban on “Suorin Air”
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has dismissed an appeal by Shenzhen Youme Information Technology and its U.S. distributor Frendz Trading, Inc. (doing business as Vape-E-Way) against an FDA marketing denial order, maintaining the ban on sales of its “Suorin Air” open-system e-cigarette device. The court ruled that Youme failed to provide key “abuse liability” research data needed to assess addiction risks—particularly when used with high-nicotine e-liquids—and its potential appeal
Aug.15 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Study Reveals Vuse’s Social Media Marketing: Using F1 and Influencers to Circumvent Advertising Bans through Entertainment Marketing
Study Reveals Vuse’s Social Media Marketing: Using F1 and Influencers to Circumvent Advertising Bans through Entertainment Marketing
A new study reveals that BAT-owned Vuse leverages global social media accounts for marketing, expanding its influence through F1 partnerships and influencer-driven entertainment placements to circumvent advertising bans. The study highlights insufficient compliance transparency and calls for strengthened unified global regulation.
Aug.19 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Product | GEEKBAR Launches First DTL Model in the U.S. with 5% Nicotine
Product | GEEKBAR Launches First DTL Model in the U.S. with 5% Nicotine
E-cigarette brand Geek Bar has recently introduced its first disposable vape with direct-to-lung (DTL) functionality to the U.S. market via distributor websites—the GEEKBAR Pulse X DTL 25K and GEEKBAR Pulse X DTL 42K. Both new models feature MTL/DTL mode switching and are differentiated by capacity, nicotine strength, and price positioning.
Aug.15 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Thai Police Seize 22,900 Smuggled E-Cigarettes Worth Approximately $310,000
Thai Police Seize 22,900 Smuggled E-Cigarettes Worth Approximately $310,000
On July 9, Thailand’s highway police intercepted a van smuggling e-cigarettes, seizing 22,920 devices worth around 10 million baht (approximately $310,000), and arrested the 41-year-old driver. This is the largest e-cigarette smuggling case in the country so far in 2025, and police plan to expand the investigation.
Jul.10 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Imperial Brands Releases New Study: Non-Tobacco Flavoured E-Cigarettes May Enhance Harm Reduction, Calling for Balanced Regulation
Imperial Brands Releases New Study: Non-Tobacco Flavoured E-Cigarettes May Enhance Harm Reduction, Calling for Balanced Regulation
Imperial Brands released a new literature review analyzing over 230 studies, finding non-tobacco e-cigarette flavours pose no greater risk and may support adult smoking cessation. Spain’s proposed flavour ban sparked opposition from seven EU countries and a warning from the European Commission.
Aug.27