The Senate has ratified a Senate and House of Representatives bicameral conference committee report on vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products regulation (Vape) bill.
The bill seeks to regulate the importation sale and use of Vape products.
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto, chairman of the Senate bicameral conference panel, said the measure does not intend to influence people, particularly minors, to make the use of Vape a part of their lifestyle.
He said the use of Vape products was meant as an alternative to cigarette smoking which is bad to one’s health.
The measure prohibits the sale of Vape products to persons below 18 years old.
It also mandates the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in coordination with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to issue technical standards for Vape products before they are sold in the market.
The Department of Health, on the other hand, shall issue guidelines for an awareness campaign on the effects of Vape use to health.
With no objection, the report was ratified past 9 o’clock last night during the Senate’s plenary session presided by Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III.
Senator Pia S. Cayetano questioned why the measure was presented when it was not in their agenda.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri asked for the understanding of his colleagues that the bicameral conference committee report was not really in their agenda but that he had to present to the plenary when received the report which he had to submit it for voting.
The Senate and the Lower House are scheduled to go on election recess on February 5.