202P.O. Box 1161, QCCPO, NCR, Philippines 1100
Cell No. : +63 917-812-5546
Email : labankonsyumer@gmail.com
: dimagibavic@gmail.com
: dmagiba@pldtdsl.net
Facebook: Laban Konsyumer Inc.
Website : www.labankonsyumer.com
LKI PRESS STATEMENT 2020-059
September 6, 2020
LABAN KONSYUMER URGES STRICT GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS FOR HEAT TOBACCO PRODUCTS OR HTPs IN THIS PANDEMIC
Consumer Group Laban Konsyumer Inc. (LKI) called out on the subject of heated tobacco products or HTPs saying “the thrust is for government to issue the IRR now based on Rep Act 11467 signed on January 20, 2020. But so far the FDA have not authorized or registered any HTPs since there is no signed IRR.. Recently IQOS stores, are taking advantage of the transitory period of eighteen months from the effectivity of the IRR. That is why Laban Konsyumer is urging strict government restrictions for HTPS in this pandemic.”
LKI President Atty. Vic Dimagiba said “from our research we saw 250 to 300 pesos for the pack of 20s heatstick and around P6T to P9T for the device, with regards to the substitution for cigarettes. With the IRR , the FDA needs 18 months to implement the law. That is why we are calling for the push of the IRR issuance as soon as possible.
LKI explained that based on the law, the Food and Drug Administration shall periodically determine and regulate, consistent with evolving medical and scientific studies, the manufacture, importation sale and packaging and advertising, and distribution of heated tobacco products, including banning the sale to nonsmokers or persons below 21 years old. Selling heated tobacco products to persons below 21 years old shall be prohibited and shall be punished with a fine of 10,000 pesos and imprisonnment of thirty days.”
LKI said “manufacturers and distributors,importers and sellers of heated tobacco products are given a period of 18 months from the effectivity of the implementing rules and regulations of the law to cpmply with the requirements under such IRR. We were alarmed seeing the news of the launching of IQOS stores in the Philippines, and thus we are calling them out on this to protect the Filipino consumer. The government must be firmer and stricter when implementing these safeguards, especially during the time of pandemic when many of us are still enduring multiple hardships brought about by the lockdown and the ongoing quarantine status of the country.”