Sorry vapers, here’s another blow against your beloved e-cigarettes.
It turns out that none of the models available in the Philippines have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, with one agency official saying yesterday that they are “technically illegal.”
The statement came from Ana Trinidad Rivera, FDA director for cosmetics regulation and research, who made the remarks during the Department of Health’s (DOH) press conference for World No Tobacco Day.
According to Rivera, none of the manufacturers or distributors in the local market have applied for a Certificate of Product Registration (CPR) with the FDA.
“Unfortunately, no one has applied for a CPR because of the requirement for clinical trials,” Rivera said in English and Filipino. “[B]ecause it is considered as a part of smoking cessation.”
READ: Man in US dies when Philippine-made vape pen explodes in face
Products advertised as an aid to smoking cessation must present scientific proof that they do indeed help smokers quit, Rivera said.
“There is still no evidence that it can be used for smoking cessation,” Rivera said. “We are awaiting (sic), we are encouraging them to do their own clinical studies, if they have, and submit it to the FDA.”
The DOH also warned against vaping last year, saying that e-cigarettes actually still contain 7,000 dangerous chemicals found in traditional cigarettes.
Still, many believe that vaping is a better alternative to smoking a pack of reds.
While only 4 percent of adult Filipino smokers surveyed in 2016 were vape users, it was found that seven out of 10 thought they are a positive substitute for cigarettes.
