BACKGROUND: The Philippines is undergoing an e-cigarette epidemic, especially among the youth. Companies market e-cigarettes, along with heated tobacco products (HTPs) and novel tobacco products, as alternatives to tobacco smoking, but the attractive packaging increases their appeal to non-smokers. The Philippines Department of Health issued Administrative Order No. 2021-0051 requiring graphic health warnings on these products. Shortly after, the government enacted the Vape Law to formally regulate e-cigarettes, HTPs, and novel tobacco products in the country. This paper aims to assess the compliance of e-cigarettes, HTPs, and novel tobacco products in the market to the requirements of these policies.
METHODS: We adapted the Tobacco Pack Surveillance System protocol to purchase e-cigarettes, HTPs, and novel tobacco products nationwide. We coded and assessed the packs' compliance using their codebook and the compliance checklist annexed in Department of Health Administrative Order No. 2021-0051.
RESULTS: We collected 313 products, including vapor products, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches. One hundred fourteen products did not have graphic health warnings on any display surface. Among those with graphic health warnings, three products were fully compliant with the requirements of the compliance checklist.
CONCLUSIONS: Graphic health warning requirement compliance is low among e-cigarette products available in the Philippines, complicated by the swift passage of the Vape Law. Even though these complications will be addressed by the new guidelines issued by the Department of Health, the Vape Law still has its weaknesses. We recommend amendments establishing an unambiguous and transparent monitoring and surveillance system for e-cigarette, HTP, and novel tobacco product regulation. Legislators should also explore the plain packaging of these products.