POSSIBLE regulations on smoking electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) or vaping is being heard at the City Council.
In a move by Vice Mayor Edison Bilog, a proposed regulatory measure for vaporisers and electronic cigarettes has passed its first reading.
“In order to protect and promote the right to health of our constituents, especially the youth, there is a need to regulate the use, sale, distribution, and advertising of the said product in the city of Baguio,” Bilog said.
The vice mayor added in his proposal the lack of regulatory scheme provided by the national government to oversee the product standards and safety has already led to the entry of untested products with questionable quality and access to youth to these devices over the internet and even on social media platforms.
Bilog explained President Rodrigo Duterte in May 2017 issued executive order 26 providing for the establishment of smoke-free environments in public and enclosed spaces, which however, does not include regulation or prohibition on the use of Vaporized Nicotine Product Systems (VNPS).
VNPS or e-cigarettes are battery operated devices which heat a solution to generate vapor which usually contain vegetable, glycerin, propylene glycol, flavorants and nicotine. It is commonly composed of an atomizer which heats the solution, a cartridge which serves as the solution carrier and a battery for power source.
VNPS is being promoted as an alternative to cigarettes and were designed to imitate both the form as well as the physical sensation delivered by cigarettes, switching from smoking tobacco cigarettes to using e-cigarettes may reduce harm by supporting quitting or acting as a lower risk substitute, however the degree of harm reduction is uncertain.
The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that governments who are considering policies to restrict vaping should consider the optimal regulation of e-cigarette products, including defining where vaping may occur.
In Bilog’s proposed ordinance, prohibitions include banning of the use of vape products indoors like places of worship, hospitals, health care centers, public conveyances, government offices, internet shops, arcades and educational or recreational facilities as well as other areas exclusively intended for minors.
Sale and distribution or transfer of VNPS by any person to minors; purchasing or otherwise receiving vaporized nicotine products from a minor.
Testing VNPS in the presence of minors, sale and purchase of VNPS from persons, establishments, online sellers and vape shops without business permits and general merchandise shops with or without business permits shall not be allowed to sell VNPS products for safety purposes.
Sale and purchase of substandard replica of VNPS commonly being sold along sidewalks and other general merchandise stores that are easily accessible to minors are prohibited.
Vaping maybe allowed provided the enclosed space shall have proper ventilation, exhaust fans, and the space shall not refer to smoking area of tobacco smokers as vapers will be exposed to second hand smoke which is deadlier than smoking itself.
Signs saying “The use of vaporized nicotine products or electronic cigarettes shall not be allowed for minors.”
Vape shops will also be allowed to use the product for testing purposes only and provided that proper ventilation, exhaust fans exist in the establishments provided no testing of the products shall be administered in the presence of minors.
The proposed law also includes provisions on verification and proof of age, product health warnings, signages to be set up at the point of sale, VNPS packaging content, advertising restrictions, tamper proof and child proof VNPS and product standards and assessments.
A VNPS task force will also be created if the law is passed to oversee implementation of provisions of the new measure.
Fines and penalties will be imposed on violators.