E-cigarettes in Philippines

Philippines: The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has filed a criminal complaint before the Department of Justice over alleged tax evasion by five traders accused of smuggling vaping products into the country. The five could face jail terms of between four and six years, and the BIR is also claiming PHP1.2bn ($21.5m) in fines and penalties. Last month, the authorities seized between 50,000 and 100,000 units of untaxed vapes, 175,050 pods, and 61,400 bottles of flavoured e-liquids, worth an estimated total of PHP15m ($270,000) to PHP30m ($54,000).

Philippines: Representative Joey Salceda of the majority bloc Lakas-CMD party has presented a bill to increase e-cigarette taxes from 1st January. The proposed rates are PHP60 ($1.05) per ml for nicotine salt e-liquids, plus an ad valorem tax at 20% of the net retail price and a specific tax of PHP20 ($0.34) per device.

Philippines: The Department of Trade and Industry is to hold a virtual public consultation on Friday, 28th October, on the draft implementing rules and regulations of the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act. The rules cover labelling, sale, advertising, sponsorship and purchase of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.