House ratifies bicam report on bill regulating vape products

The House of Representatives on Wednesday ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the measure seeking to regulate vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products or vapes.

No congressman objected to the ratification of the said measure which bans posts, messages, or images by manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers that encourage the purchase and use of vape products.

The reconciled bill provides regulations on the importation, manufacture, sale, packaging, distribution, use, and communication of vape products and novel tobacco products.

The Senate ratified Tuesday the bicam report on the bill intended to offer an alternative for Filipinos who want to quit smoking.

The Philippine College of Physicians on Monday appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to veto the Vape Bill stressing that it will break his campaign promise to curb the proliferation of narcotics.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the nation's health department also supports the call of medical societies to veto the measure.

The Department of Health will be tasked to prescribe guidelines on the implementation of smoking and vaping restriction awareness campaigns while the Department of Trade and Industry will consult with the Food and Drug Administration in setting technical standards for the safety, consistency, and quality of the vape products.

Manufacturers, distributors, importers, and sellers will be given an 18-month transitory period from the issuance of the implementing rules and regulations to comply with the requirements of this measure.

This would include the registration of the vape products with the DTI.

The chairman of the House contingent in the bicameral panel was Deputy Speaker Weslie Gatchalian while Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto chaired that of the Senate.

With the ratification of the bicam report, the proposed law is now up for Duterte’s signature or veto.—AOL, GMA News