THIS is to respond to the statement made by the Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS) calling on the government to ban the use of electronic cigarettes.
In the said statement, Dr. Ramon Severino of the PPS pointed out that we are “teaching a new vice to the public moreover to our children and the youth”.
The Philippine Electronic Cigarette Industry Association Inc. (PECIA) strongly belies this accusation. The PECIA, a self-regulatory trade body, is composed of 95+ legitimate store and mall based electronic cigarette shops nationwide. Its Code of Conduct expressly prohibits the sale of products to minors, and enforces this policy through its Regulatory Committee. In certain cases, a photo ID is required to make a purchase.
PECIA believes that electronic cigarette use is a lifestyle choice for ALREADY COMMITTED ADULT SMOKERS. The freedom to choose is embodied in the basic law.
However, PECIA acknowledges that there is an illicit trade of electronic cigarettes by street vendors (bangketa) that do sell these products to anyone, including minors. PECIA is as concerned as PPS regarding this, and hopes to address this matter in talks with concerned government agencies.
The PPS also admitted that there is no scientific research or tests made to prove that electronic cigarettes can cause diseases. This is why that the calls to ban the usage of electronic cigarettes are highly irrational lest they prove that it is far more dangerous than tobacco. Tobacco has already been proven to cause disease, and yet it is legally available to adults. Electronic cigarettes do no contain tobacco.
PECIA calls on e-cigarette users to observe proper decorum whenever using the product. This will also be addressed in PECIA’s social, civic, educational and humanitarian projects for the benefit of both e-cigarette users and the general public.
Association members are willing to have its products tested by accredited laboratories to prove that e-cigarettes are not harmful. The ingredients used in making our products have been previously approved by government health authorities, and are even available over the counter and in drugstores and lab suppliers.
Lastly, we call on our friends from the medical profession to be open-minded and not just single out an industry that promotes tobacco harm reduction, and instead help us in promoting a lifestyle change for Filipino smokers.
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