MANILA, PHILIPPINES, 28.07.2022 – On Monday, July 25th, the so-called Vape Bill was enacted into law. The measure aims to regulate the importation, manufacture, sale, packaging, distribution, use, and communication of vapour and heated tobacco products.

Importantly the bill focuses on imposing age restrictions over 18 years, ensuring that adult smokers can access non-combustible alternatives to smoking.

Liza Katsiashvili, community manager at World Vapers’ Alliance,  said:

“"Mentre la maggior parte dei decisori politici è disinformata e combatte contro lo svapo, le Filippine hanno seguito la strada giusta, adottando lo svapo come un'efficace innovazione per la riduzione del danno e salvare vite umane. Altri Paesi dovrebbero seguire questo esempio e adottare politiche intelligenti per lo svapo, al fine di garantire una migliore salute pubblica a milioni di consumatori in tutto il mondo".”

The act, introduced by Senator Ralph G. Recto, indicates that the priority of the State is to adopt the harm reduction strategy, focused on smoking cessation for adult consumers. This statement is a massive victory for the vaping community in the Philippines.

Every year smoking kills nearly 100 thousand smokers in the Philippines. The progressive public health policy focusing on safer nicotine consumption is a chance to decrease illness and mortality rates, thus improving the life quality of thousands of individuals living in the Philippines.

Several local vaping associations have been campaigning in support of the Vape Bill. Among them are WVA partners from the Nicotine Consumption Union of the Philippines (NCUP). Anton Israel, the founder of the NCUP, said:

“"Gli svapatori nelle Filippine stanno celebrando una grande vittoria! Crediamo che la legge sullo svapo sia una strategia sanitaria che promuove la scelta dei consumatori e l'opportunità per i fumatori di usufruire di alternative più sicure al tabacco combustibile. La decisione del governo di incoraggiare lo svapo invece di scoraggiarlo porterà enormi benefici alla salute pubblica del Paese."”

World Vapers’ Alliance stands with the decision of the Philippines senate to embrace life-saving innovation and ensure access to less harmful nicotine delivery products for the consumers, thus creating an opportunity to drastically improve public health over the years and save thousands of lives.