The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will begin apprehending stores selling unregistered vape products beginning September 2024, an official said Wednesday.

"Dapat ngayon nagsisimula nang mag-register yung mga nagma-manufacture at importer ng vape kasi hindi na makakapasok… yung mga produktong vape na walang ICC application or walang PS license yung manufacturer,” said Assistant Secretary Amanda Nograles of the DTI’s Consumer Protection Group.

“Meron tayong panahon hanggang September 2024, yung mga nakapasok sa ating market, yung mga inventory na luma na yan po k

Vape manufacturers and importers must register as early as now, because if the products have no ICC applications or the manufacturers don't have a PS license, these products won't be able to enter the country. We have time until September 2024--the old inventory must be sold out by then.)

In April, the DTI reported that it confiscated illegal vape products worth at least P31 million.

The agency is coordinating with local government units and civil organizations to raise awareness on the dangers of the use of vapes, Nograles said. 

This, following the reported death of a minor due to severe lung injury caused by the use of vapes.

“Sinabi din doon sa ulat na nabasa natin na dalawang artery noong biktima ay may bara and mayroon daw consolidation sa baga iyong bata," Nograles noted. 

"Talagang sinabi nila dahil healthy iyong bata, wala naman siyang bisyo, hindi naninigarilyo – iyon lang talaga, nakita nilang araw-araw na paggamit ng vape sa loob ng dalawang taon kaya nasabi nila na ito iyong talagang related to or caused by vape use, iyong ikinamatay noong bata, iyong biktima,” she said.

(The report said the minor's 2 arteries were blocked, and there was consolidation in his lungs. Now, because they said the kid was healthy and did not smoke--we can really see that daily vaping for 2 years may have killed him.)

Full story here: https://tinylinkurl.com/DTI-to-go-after-illegal-vape-stores-starting-September-2024