House leader seeks unitary tax for vape products; tobacco company agrees
A Philippine House leader is pushing for a unified tax on vape products due to rising youth usage, with a tobacco company expressing support.Summary
Marikina Representative Romero Quimbo is advocating for a single tax rate on vape products in the Philippines, citing a dramatic increase in nicotine product use among youth aged 10-19 – from 0.8% in 2015 to 39.9% in 2023, according to the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI). Quimbo argues the current two-tier tax system incentivizes vaping and poses a future burden on the healthcare system. He emphasized the accessibility and aggressive marketing of flavored vapes to young consumers. Japan Tobacco International (JTI) director Mario Zinampan voiced support for Quimbo’s House Bill 1316, advocating for a unified tax rate to prevent misclassification and illicit trade. JTI suggests aligning the vape tax rate with that of heated tobacco products, consistent with the intent of the 2020 Excise Tax Law, which recognizes these as alternatives to cigarettes.
(Source：Gma News Online)
