DOH backs proposed ban on disposable vapes
The Department of Health (DOH) expressed its support for the proposed ban on disposable vapes due to their “harmful effects on our health and the environment.”
In a statement released on Wednesday, March 6, the agency said that vape products in general pose health risks, including e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI), nicotine addiction, as well as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
The DOH also stressed its environmental threats, noting that such products are “made with plastic and batteries, which are not easily recyclable or biodegradable.”
“These items result in electronic waste (e-waste) that contains harmful chemicals that can seep into soil and water sources, posing risks to both the environment and public health,” it added.
This comes after Secretary of Finance Ralph Recto raised on Tuesday, March 5 the possibility of banning disposable vapes in the country, citing concerns about its lack of regulation. He pointed out that most of them are not registered with the Department of Trade and Industry, allowing them to dodge the required excise taxes.
Disposable vapes currently cost around P120 to P500 on e-shopping platforms in the country.
In a January press conference, DOH chief Teodoro Herbosa said he asked the Philippine National Police to make it a point that minors won't be able to access e-cigarettes as he raised concerns about the increasing number of vape users among the young and highlighted the potential health risks associated with it.