According to Tribune's report on August 15th, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) have officially signed a cooperation agreement to jointly combat e-cigarette products containing illegal drug ingredients.
On August 8th, Assistant Secretary and Head of the Fair Trade Division of the DTI, Agaton Teodoro Uvero, and Deputy Director of PDEA, Virgilio Lazo, signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) aimed at addressing e-cigarette products containing illegal drugs.
Uvero expressed that
This agreement utilizes the combined resources and expertise of the DTI and PDEA to ensure product safety and protect the public, especially our young people, from the invasion of illegal drugs including marijuana pods.
PDEA Director Lazo believes that establishing an action-oriented partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry is a positive step in addressing and dismantling the distribution networks of illegal drug products.
According to the memorandum, the PDEA will closely collaborate with the DTI and other relevant enforcement agencies to investigate any leads and intelligence related to illegal drug e-cigarette products and other consumer goods.
At the same time, the memorandum further reiterated that the DTI and PDEA will be dedicated to implementing Republic Act No. 11900 (the "e-cigarette law") and Republic Act No. 9165 (the "Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002").
Last month, the DTI issued Department Administrative Order No. 24-03 for 2024, which temporarily suspends the online sale of e-cigarettes in order to protect the health and safety of minors.
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