Senators fume over vape industry’s targeting the youth market, urge DTI to uphold law
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines —Outraged senators on Monday decried the sale of vaping products that are packaged to entice the youth and demanded that the Department of Trade and Industry uphold the law.
During the plenary session, the Senate adopted an unnumbered resolution, which was referred to the Senate committee on sustainable development goals, innovation and futures thinking, chaired by Senator Pia Cayetano.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri proposed the adoption of a resolution as Cayetano delivered a privilege speech on the unregulated selling of vape products targeting minors through its packaging and flavor.
“Kapag maganda sa mata (If it is appealing to our eyes), we are attracted. Kung maganda sa pandinig natin (If it sounds good), we are attracted. And when it is something that is flavorful, we are attracted,” Cayetano said.
Next, she cited the sin tax law and stated: “The sale of vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products and novel tobacco products that are packaged, labeled, presented, or marketed with flavor descriptors that are proven to unduly appeal particularly to minors shall be prohibited. A flavor descriptor is presumed to unduly appeal to minors if it includes a reference to a fruit, candy brand, dessert, or cartoon character.”
The senators pressed the DTI to enforce the law. Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva made the motion, which passed without opposition.
“I move [to adopt an] unnumbered resolution expressing the sense of the Senate calling the concerned agencies, especially the Department of Trade and Industry, condemning the situation in the sale and marketing of vape flavors and design targeting the youth,” said Villanueva.
All senators were made co-authors of the resolution.
