DTI bares clearing 10 vape companies

The Office for the Special Mandate on Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products, their Devices, and Novel Tobacco Products (OSMV) accredited a total of 10 vape companies, Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Roque disclosed.

“On the overview, a lot of them were accredited already, and hopefully by the end of the year, we will have nine to 10 companies that have already registered and complied with the DTI. That’s what we want for the DTI side — for them to comply and register with us and the standards are being met,” Roque told reporters in a recent media briefing.

“Vapes are being sold out there, and it has chemicals that might not be good for health or maybe okay for public consumption, so we have to make sure that these are okay,” she emphasized.

She said that most vape products are imported and distributed by local counterparts.

Raps resolved

Earlier, the OSMV, a special department formed by the DTI to regulate vape products, said it has lifted the suspension of trading activities for vape products manufactured by AEROGIN and RELX, as formal charges have been resolved.

“Formal charges have been resolved. This means that the cases against the two named brands/companies have been disposed of by DTI FTEB, which accordingly resulted in the lifting of the suspension order,” said Office of Special Mandate on Vape (OSMV) director Marcus Valdez.

Additionally, the DTI has lifted the preliminary order/preventive measure order of FLARE, NIXX and VAPENGIN vape products.

The three vape brands have just to comply with licensing requirements with the DTI.

However, the sale of these products remains prohibited until their respective Philippine Standard licenses are issued.