The Department of Justice (DOJ) said Friday at the Eleventh Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in Panama City that the Philippines has laws that regulate tobacco products and guide government agencies in enforcing tobacco control measures.
DOJ Senior State Counsel Charadee Caso-Noble told delegates that Philippine laws cover traditional tobacco, vapor products, and other related products. She said the laws restrict sales to minors, require health warnings, regulate advertising, and set smoke-free areas.
She said the Inter-Agency Committee on Tobacco, which includes the DOJ, oversees the implementation of these laws and checks compliance. She said the DOJ provides legal support to agencies that enforce tobacco rules and handle violation cases.
Caso-Noble said authorities enforce licensing rules for manufacturers, importers, and retailers and conduct inspections to ensure compliance with packaging, labeling, and marketing requirements.
She said the Philippines aligns its rules with the WHO tobacco control treaty and reports its implementation to the treaty secretariat. She said government agencies also review regulations to address new products.
Caso-Noble said agencies file administrative and criminal cases against violators and impose penalties under the law. She said the government gathers data for its treaty reports and trains officers on enforcement procedures.
She said the Philippine delegation at COP11 joined discussions with other countries on tobacco control and regulatory approaches.
