Solon wants to regulate e-cigarettes

A lawmaker has filed a bill regulating the manufacture, distribution, sale,

importation and use of electronic cigarettes as one of the new means to overcome tobacco
addiction.
Rep. Eric L. Olivarez (
st
!istrict, "ara#a$ue %it&' said e(cigarettes are not
completel& risk(free because it remains a source of nicotine, which is known to be an
addictive substance.
)Although it ma& be safer than a cigarette or tobacco, because it does not produce
real smoke as a ver& dangerous b&(product of the latter, the long(term effects of vaping e(
cigarettes are still not guaranteed to be completel& safe,* Olivarez said.
)E(cigarettes were developed to provide tobacco or cigarette users a smoke(free
source of nicotine, which of course should not be left as it is. Although arguabl& it is safer
than a regular cigarette, the fact that it still induces substance dependence means that it
nonetheless needs to be regulated,* Olivarez added.
Olivarez said e(cigarettes are marketed as a safer alternative to regular cigarettes as
this device was hinged on the belief that it is the ke& to help smokers stop their unhealth&
habit without having to suffer the effects of sudden withdrawal and eliminates the risk of
other people getting complication from second(hand smoke because e(cigarettes do not
produce smoke as a b&(product.
)E(cigarettes are designed to mimic the real thing. +he internal assembl& of this
device is comprised of a batter&, a heating element, and a cartridge that holds nicotine and
other li$uids and flavorings. +he end of the stick glows as one inhales it and a cloud of
pseudo(smoke is puffed out as the user e,hales. +his seeming smoke is vapor, and the act
of inhaling the said device is called vaping,* Olivarez said.
Olivarez said tobacco smoking has alwa&s posed a great health risk on the lives of
the people who smoke, and the people who inhale second hand smoke from the former.
)-e are all aware of the illnesses potentiall& brought about b& constant smoking.
"eople who have developed dependence on cigarettes are regularl& e,posed to the ill
effects of tar, nicotine and the cigarette.s b&(product / smoke itself, among man& other
harmful chemicals,* Olivarez said.
0nder Olivarez.s 1ouse 2ill 3456 to be known as the )E(%igarettes or 7ape
Regulation Act of 849,* manufacturers of e(cigarettes are directed to put health warnings
in the packaging of their products.
NR # 3638
NOV. 2, 2014
+he !O1 should prescribe the standard for the size, content and other matters
regarding the health warning signs that said e(cigarettes must bear. :t ma& impose
restrictions and regulations regarding the advertising and promotion of e(cigarettes to
ensure that the public are made aware of the actual nature of e(cigarettes and are not
misled or misinformed regarding the product.
+he said department ma& also impose restrictions on its flavorings or composition
as ma& be necessar& and possible so as to reduce the ill effects of vaping and nicotine
addiction.
+he bill provides that companies who wish to manufacture or distribute e(cigarettes
in the countr& should first register the products and their ingredients with the 2ureau of
;ood and !rugs (2;!'.
;or those companies who are alread& manufacturing and<or distributing e(cigarettes,
the& too should register the products and their ingredients with the 2;!. Local
government units (L=0' are allowed to lev& reasonable ta,es on the manufacturing, sale,
distribution or importation of e(cigarettes. (64' lvc