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E-cigarette vaping in Philippines

Profile
Philippines Flag
Cigarettes
Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
Philippines Background
Profile
Philippines Flag
Cigarettes
Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
Data sourced: 2024.   Page updated: 2025-11-05

In the Philippines, an administrative order made by the Department of Health in 2014 (No.0008) addresses the regulation of e-cigarettes. The order states that e-cigarettes are a combination of drugs and medical devices, and not tobacco or consumer products – therefore they come under the remit of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The sale and use of e-cigarettes are legal. New regulations in force from July 2019 state that vaping is banned in public places. The Ministry of Health in the Philippines issued an Administrative Order (AO) regarding e-cigarettes on July 10th 2019 which became effective 15 days later. The AO only covers e-cigarettes and does not apply to Heated Tobacco Products. The AO requires companies engaged in the manufacture, import, and retail of e-cigarettes in the Philippines to obtain a license to operate, and to obtain a certificate of product registration, within three months. It also provides for a ban on any form of advertising, promotion or sponsorship (more stringent rules than for cigarettes), and a ban on flavors and additives that are proven or suspected to be appealing to youth.

Prevalence

Year Value Reference/Comment
2015 536,580 1A A
2021 1.6 million 1B
2021 1.6 million 1C
2024 1.7 million 1C
References:
  1. 1. Global Adult Tobacco Survey, 2015. Available at:https://nccd.cdc.gov/GTSSDataSurveyResources/Ancillary/DataReports.aspx?CAID=1 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
  2. 1. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2021. Fact Sheet, Phillippines 2021. https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/ncds/ncd-surveillance/data-reporting/philippines/gats/gats-philippines-national-2021-rev.pdf 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
  3. 1. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2021 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
Comments:
  1. In Philippines, GATS was conducted in 2015 as a household survey of persons 15 years of age and older. A multi-stage, geographically clustered sample design was used to produce nationally representative data. There were a total of 11,644 completed individual interviews. World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
Year Value Reference/Comment
2015 0.8% 2A A
2021 2.1% 2B
2021 2.1% 2C
References:
  1. Global Adult Tobacco Survey, 2015. Available at:https://nccd.cdc.gov/GTSSDataSurveyResources/Ancillary/DataReports.aspx?CAID=1
  2. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2021. Fact Sheet, Phillippines 2021. https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/ncds/ncd-surveillance/data-reporting/philippines/gats/gats-philippines-national-2021-rev.pdf
  3. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2021 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
Comments:
  1. In Philippines, GATS was conducted in 2015 as a household survey of persons 15 years of age and older. A multi-stage, geographically clustered sample design was used to produce nationally representative data. There were a total of 11,644 completed individual interviews.
Year Value Reference/Comment
2021 0.5% 2A
2021 0.5% 2B
References:
  1. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2021. Fact Sheet, Phillippines 2021. https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/ncds/ncd-surveillance/data-reporting/philippines/gats/gats-philippines-national-2021-rev.pdf
  2. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2021 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
Year Value Reference/Comment
2021 3.6% 2A
2021 3.6% 2B
References:
  1. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2021. Fact Sheet, Phillippines 2021. https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/ncds/ncd-surveillance/data-reporting/philippines/gats/gats-philippines-national-2021-rev.pdf
  2. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2021 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
Year Value Reference/Comment
2015 2.8% 3A A
2021 5.7% 3B
References:
  1. Global Adult Tobacco Survey, 2015. Available at:https://nccd.cdc.gov/GTSSDataSurveyResources/Ancillary/DataReports.aspx?CAID=1
  2. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2021. Fact Sheet, Phillippines 2021. https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/ncds/ncd-surveillance/data-reporting/philippines/gats/gats-philippines-national-2021-rev.pdf
Comments:
  1. In Philippines, GATS was conducted in 2015 as a household survey of persons 15 years of age and older. A multi-stage, geographically clustered sample design was used to produce nationally representative data. There were a total of 11,644 completed individual interviews.
References:
  1. 1. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2021 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
  2. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2021 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
  3. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2021. Fact Sheet, Phillippines 2021. https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/ncds/ncd-surveillance/data-reporting/philippines/gats/gats-philippines-national-2021-rev.pdf

Product promotion

Comments:
  1. Allowed or banned at place of sale or allowed or banned in all media.

Regulation

Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier Allowed 1A
2022 Allowed 1B A
References:
  1. Data cross-referenced where possible using the following sources :1. Vapetrotter website. Available at: https://www.vapetrotter.com/laws/ ; 2. Global tobacco control website. Available at:https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/node/14052 ; 3. Tobacco Control Laws website. Available at : https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/
  2. Republic Act No. 11900, RA 11900 (2022). https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2022/ra_11900_2022.html
Comments:
  1. E-cigarettes, HTPs and novelty tobacco products, such as snus and nicotine pouches, are currently covered by RA 11900, where they are considered consumer products unless they contain medical claims - in which case they first require FDA approval. E-cigarettes, HTPs and novelty tobacco products, such as snus and nicotine pouches, are currently covered by RA 11900, where they are considered consumer products unless they contain medical claims - in which case they first require FDA approval.
Yes
1 A
2022
References:
  1. Republic Act No. 11900, RA 11900 (2022). https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2022/ra_11900_2022.html
Comments:
  1. E-cigarettes, HTPs and novelty tobacco products, such as snus and nicotine pouches, are currently covered by RA 11900, where they are considered consumer products unless they contain medical claims - in which case they first require FDA approval. E-cigarettes, HTPs and novelty tobacco products, such as snus and nicotine pouches, are currently covered by RA 11900, where they are considered consumer products unless they contain medical claims - in which case they first require FDA approval.

Availability

Regulations and restrictions

Publications

Nov
2023

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The GSTHR database is updated regularly by our team. However, please be aware that the information we provide does not constitute legal advice. We cannot guarantee that the information is up to date or accurate, as the regulatory status of different product categories can change at short notice and with little publicity. If you wish to check the legal status of use or possession of any safer nicotine product in a specific country or region, you should verify the information independently. If you have reason to think that the information supplied on the GSTHR is inaccurate, please contact us with details and any references and we will rectify any errors.