CONGRESS is still studying how to regulate the vaping industry by law despite a “de facto” ban on the products due to import restrictions, a key legislator said.
Representative Jose Maria Clemente S. Salceda of the Second District of Albay said he remains interested in regulating and taxing the industry despite the freeze on import permits imposed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Tobacco Administration (NTA).
He said a ban on legitimate imports may lead users to resort to illicit products, which are a greater health risk than mainstream vape products.
“Ang amin pong caveat, that is pag-aaral ng CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) sa Amerika, halos 87% ng lahat ng injuries brought by vape are due to illicit vapes or illicit trade. So itong import ban ay baka lang mai-push them underground, baka lalo pong lumaki yung injuries to health. Kasi nga po that is in the nature, that all prohibition actually does not work and leads to more harm. (The caveat is that the CDC has found that nearly 87% of all vaping injuries are due to illicit vapes… an import ban could push the industry underground and led to more health risks. That is the nature of prohibition — it actually does not work and leads to more harm)” Mr. Salceda said.
Mr. Salceda is looking at a P45 tax for vape products, level with which the tax on cigarettes. This is expected to raise at least P2.6 billion in revenue. — Genshen L. Espedido
