Health advocates seek to amend 'Vape Regulation law,' protect youth

Health advocates on Friday called on the government to immediately amend Republic Act 11900 or the Vape Regulation Law to mitigate, if not undo, the harmful effects of the products to the health of the Filipino youth.

In time for the celebration of National Children's Month, HealthJustice Philippines, Child Rights Network (CRN), the Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD), and the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) underscored the need to strengthen and strictly enforce the country's vape and tobacco control policies.

With the increase of electric cigarette and vape usage among the youth aged 13 to 15, Managing Director of Health Justice Ralph Degollacion emphasized that implementing stricter policy interventions is necessary.

"Our laws against tobacco and vape use are poorly enforced and contain loopholes that the tobacco and vape industry actively exploits. Sales of vapes continue to proliferate in the market because the DTI is ineffectively executing their mandate, thus clearly risking the health and lives of our children. The FDA should be the only legitimate health agency to regulate these harmful products," Degollacion said at the Pandesal forum in Quezon City.

"Ang sigarilyo at vape, pareho yang lason," he said, contrary to what others may believe that 'vape is an healthy alternative to smoking.'

With this, he said lowering the age of access to vape to as young as 18 years old is also a way to protect the youth from the harmful effects of vaping.

In 2019, the Global Youth Tobacco Survey showed students as young as 13 years old were already smoking or vaping.

Health experts say that vape products are made to entice youth and smokers by posing as an alternative to smoking and claiming that it is healthier and safer.

Most are even marketed as toys, school supplies, and confectionery in fruity flavors.

Moreover, according to a recent study by the Johns Hopkins University Institute of Tobacco Control, more than 5,500 publicly visible online posts by vape and heated tobacco product companies on social media platforms use youth-appealing marketing elements like cartoons or depictions of partying and advertise vape flavors like fruits and sweets.

These posts violate the Vape Regulation Law, which prohibits advertising flavors that appeal to young people.

Republic Act 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003, prohibits smoking in public places, the sale of cigarettes to Filipinos under the age of 21, and many forms of advertisements but allows other promotional activities at points of sale and online.

While R.A. 11900 or the Vape Regulation Law, enacted in 2022, is weakened by its industry-friendly provisions with the age of access to vapes lowered to 18 instead of 21, jurisdiction placed under the DTI rather than the FDA, and no restrictions set for flavors and online sales or ads.

Health professionals have been actively stressing that using electric cigarettes or vape products is not a safer alternative to smoking, for it may put the country at risk of an epidemic or e-cigarette or vape-associated lung injury (EVALI).

EVALI is a medical condition causing lung damage from substances contained in vaping products. 

In May 2024, the Department of Health (DOH) said that the first vape-related death in the country was recorded — a 22-year-old Filipino male who died of a heart attack following a severe lung injury, which is linked to his daily vape usage for two years. — BAP, GMA Integrated News