An Act Regulating The Importation, Manufacture, Sale, Packaging, Distribution, Use, And Communication of Vapor Products And Heated Tobacco Products

• This bill seeks to regulate, the importation, manufacture, sale, packaging, distribution, use, advertisement, promotion and sponsorship of Vaporized Nicotine Products to reduce the harm caused by smoking, promote a healthy environment and protect the citizens from any potential hazards coming from the use of these novel consumer products. This bill also declares it a State policy to consider harm reduction measures as a public health strategy whereby these novel consumer products are properly regulated, the citizens protected from the hazards of tobacco smoke while ensuring that access to non-combustible alternatives to cigarettes is not curtailed. 
• This measure imposes a minimum age restriction of 18 years for these products to ensure that only adults are allowed access to its use. It also mandates that buyers be made to verify their age through a government-issued identification card. Websites that carry these products should also be age gated. 
• This bill prohibits the use of these products in schools, hospitals, government offices, and facilities intended particularly for minors. It further limits to designated vaping areas, the use of these products in indoor facilities and in other specific places that are open to the general public. 
• Most importantly, this bill grants the Department of Trade and Industry jurisdiction over these products. To ensure that defective, dangerous, and substandard products are kept off the market, product standards for consumables and electrical devices in line with international practices shall be made mandatory.
• Finally, this bill also requires risk-appropriate health warnings to be displayed on the package.

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