The president of Apex Pacific Corporation, makers of the Flare vape brand, criticized Safe Vape Ph for smearing their clean reputation by alleging that Flare vapes contain an excessive amount of formaldehyde.

“This assertion is completely false and baseless. Flare has adhered strictly to the highest safety and quality standards, undergoing regular third-party laboratory testing to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. All our products are certified under the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act (RA 11900),” Paul Jefferson Vivas, president of Apex Pacific Corporation, averred in an interview on Tuesday.

Vivas also maintained that independent laboratory analyses, available upon request, confirmed that Flare products conform to Philippine National Standards (PNS)

Vivas also rebuffed Safe Vape Ph’s allegation that Flare evolved from Flava — a vape brand banned by the Department of Trade and Industry — and was involved in black-market distribution channels.

“This is not only untrue but also damaging to our credibility and commitment to lawful operations. We have consistently collaborated with regulatory agencies, including the DTI, to ensure full compliance with legal requirements for the manufacture, distribution, and sale of our products,” Vivas lamented.

Further, he refuted claims that Flare was associated with underage marketing, which Safe Vape Ph had previously alleged.

Vivas stated, “This claim disregards our strict adherence to ethical marketing practices, including implementing stringent age-verification mechanisms across its sales platforms; proactively avoiding any marketing campaigns or imagery targeted at underage audiences; supporting enforcement initiatives to prevent underage access to vape products, and exaggeration of public health risks specific to Flare products.”

“We stand firm and clean as we are in full possession of all the necessary official documents to support our claim, such as comprehensive product testing results from accredited laboratories; official certifications and permits demonstrating compliance with Philippine laws and international safety standards; and documentation of our marketing policies and age-verification protocols,” Vivas added.

Vivas repeatedly asserted, “Flare is in no way related to Flava, as the two are entirely separate entities with no shared ownership, management, or operations. The baseless linkage has caused unwarranted harm to our reputation among customers and partners.”