Rep. Robert Nazal —Photo from the House of Representatives
MANILA, Philippines — Of the 313 vape brands in the market, about 292 are unregistered — or 93 percent, according to a survey conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Trade Assistant Secretary Marcus Valdez II made the revelation on Tuesday, Aug. 25, during the hearing of the House Committee on Ways and Means on excise taxes for tobacco and vapor products, prompting legislators and regulators to call for tougher enforcement and harmonized excise taxes on vapor products.
Valdez recalled that in the previous hearing he reported 18 registered vape brands, but noted that two—Shift and Chillax—face cancellation. He added that these brands were also flagged in the Bureau of Customs (BOC) report.
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