HB04816: AN ACT REGULATING THE TRADE OF ELECTRONIC NICOTINE AND NON-NICOTINE DELIVERY SYSTEMS (ENDS/ENNDS) AND HEATED TOBACCO PRODUCTS (HTPs), PARTICULARLY, THE MANUFACTURING, USE, SALE, PACKAGING, DISTRIBUTION, AND COMMUNICATIONS THEREOF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
This bill aims to regulate the trade of Electronic Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS/ENNDS) and Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs), covering their manufacturing, use, sale, packaging, distribution, and communications. It declares a policy to promote harm reduction as a public health strategy by properly regulating non-combustible alternatives to cigarettes and making them available to adult smokers who cannot quit. Key provisions include prohibiting sales to minors (under 18), establishing strict age verification, regulating advertising and promotional materials (e.g., no cartoon characters, no depiction of use), and specifying where these products can and cannot be used publicly. The bill also sets product standards, requires tamper-proof and child-proof designs for nicotine receptacles, and outlines market placement notification requirements.
The significance of this bill for the Filipino people lies in its attempt to balance public health concerns with harm reduction principles. It seeks to protect minors and non-smokers from accessing these products while providing a regulated alternative for adult smokers who wish to transition away from traditional combustible cigarettes. By establishing clear regulations and enforcement mechanisms, including fines and imprisonment for violations, the bill aims to ensure the safety and quality of these products, inform consumers, and ultimately contribute to reducing the prevalence of smoking-related diseases in the Philippines.