Medical, health groups hit Senate’s 2nd reading approval of Vape Bill
VARIOUS medical and health groups have criticized the Senate approval on second reading of Senate Bill (SBN) 2239 or the Vaporized Nicotine Products Regulation Act, which they branded as “anti-health, anti-youth, and anti-children.”
Philippine Medical Association (PMA) president Dr. Benito Atienza said SBN 2239 or the Vape Bill is allegedly not good for the health of the people.
If the Senate will hold session this Thursday, the group feared that the bill may pass on 3rd and final reading even if the proposal is not a certified measure.
Critics criticized the bill, which seeks to lower the minimum age of access to vapes and e-cigarettes from the current 21 years old to 18 years old.
The bill transfers the power of regulation over said products from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and eases restrictions on the use of flavorings.
Sen. Pia Cayetano opposed the proposal and sought to retain the minimum age of 21-year old to access vapes, retaining the power of FDA to regulate vapes and limit to plain tobacco and plain menthol the flavor that majority of senators rejected.
Like Cayetano, the Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS), Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) and public interest law group Imagine Law opposed the approval of the measure that will add to the country’s health problems.
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