MANILA, Philippines — House committee on economic affairs chair Sharon Garin has filed a bill that seeks to regulate electronic cigarettes to protect the interest of tobacco farmers, among others. In a statement Thursday, Garin, representative of Ang Asosasyon Sang Mangunguma Nga Bisaya-Owa Mangunguma (AAMBIS-OWA) party-list, said her House Bill No. Citing a study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, the lawmaker stressed that smallholder tobacco farmers remain the most vulnerable in the rise of electronic cigarettes and the shifting economic landscape. “Aside from the rising health concerns, regulation is imperative to balance factors such as revenue generation, trade and commerce, job creation, the protection of minors and non-smokers, and the interest of tobacco farmers. The bill also provides penalties ranging from P100,000 to P1 million or imprisonment of up to five years for violators.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer November 14, 2019 04:57 UTC