MANILA – Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo Pascual said on Friday he has signed an administrative order (AO) that temporarily suspends the selling of all vape products in all e-commerce platforms.
In a press briefing with trade reporters in Makati City, Pascual said the AO will take effect immediately and will only be lifted if the merchants and the owners of the e-commerce platforms will be able to convince DTI that they are not selling vape products to minors.
“Our main motivation here is to prevent the sale of vape products to minors, and also make sure that they are compliant of the safety of the products,” he said.
The DTI chief had meeting with vape manufacturers, importers, and retailers Friday morning.
He said some of the online platforms volunteered to suspend the selling of vape products.
“But the concern is that they go voluntarily in suspending, how about the others? It would be unfair. That’s why decided to go ahead and issue a blanket suspension,” Pascual said.
DTI Undersecretary Amanda Nograles said that under the law, the verification of age should be don in point of sale and point of delivery.
She said that in online selling, the age verification in the point of sale is not possible.
She added there will be penalties for those who will violate the AO. (PNA)