NIuIalga.
,
Buainess
Tuesday, August 20, 2otg
Groups slam bitl raising taxes on e-cigs
THE Philippine E-Cigatette Industry
Association (PECIA) and The Vapers
PH have condemned a hastily-passed
House bill significandy raising excise
taxes on e-vapor products and making
tax rates virtually the same as tegular
cigarettes.
The t'wo groups slammed the cham-
ber for lack of consultation and for
ignoring the overwhelming scien-
tific evidence that these products pose
significantly less risk to health than
cigarettes. ' hour due to smoking-telated diseases.
"Smokers will simply continue to
for
use cigarettes. Thete is no incentive
them from government to switch to a
better alternative," they said.
Inskht
The House approved on 2nd reading
last Aug. 14 a substituted vetsion of
House Bill No. 1026 which was origi-
nally an alcohol excise tax measure but
suddenly included a tax on e-cigarettes
and heated tobacco products.
PECIA and Vapers PH said no
public hearingwas conducted and they
were not consulted.
"This unfortunate development is
absolutely shameful and tragic. Ap-
proximately 10 Filipinos die every
$flhile an increasing number of coun-
tries are adopting hatm reduction in
their national tobacco conffol policy,
our Congress wants to increase taxes
r$ PAq€-
Q&tl
on reduced-risk ptoducts that can help
prevent smoking-telated sickness and
deaths in the country," PECIA presi-
dentJoey Dulay said in a statement.
"These proposed heavy sanctions on
e-cigarettes and heated tobacco prod-
ucts will tesult to a public health tmg-
edy. The substitute version of House
Bill No. 1026 is inconsiderate and
irresponsible that should be reviewed '
with properpublic consultation. Heavy. n
taxes on reduced-risk products wdl
only result to smokets sticking it'out
with conventional cigarettes instead
of switching to less harmful nicotine .
q
products," said Mark Czerudn Erana.,
President of the Vapers PH.
ll