Shopee Philippines Inc. has taken swift action and immediately implemented ongoing measures to strengthen its monitoring and policing of prohibited vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products being advertised and sold on their platform.
As of March 2, 2023, the day after the dialogue with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Shopee reported it has removed over one million prohibited Vape listings from their platform.
The DTI said a representative from Shopee Public Affairs Office assured the agency of their continued support and cooperation.
The DTI quoted the official as saying Shopee will also continue to maintain a direct line with the DTI in working together on this matter even as it committed it will continue to help its sellers comply with their obligations under the Vape law.
“We appeal to all online marketplaces to police their sellers and ensure that appropriate age verification mechanisms and point of sale signages are in place, and that all listed products bear the required graphic health warnings prescribed by Republic Act 11900,” said DTI Undersecretary Ruth Castelo
Castelo cited the mandatory compliance with Joint Administrative Order (JAO) No. 22-01, reminding all digital platforms including social media marketplaces such as Facebook/Meta, Instagram, Viber, Lazada, Shopee, Carousell, among others, that existing laws, rules, and regulations that apply to physical stores likewise apply to online stores.
The DTI said it expects the cooperation of marketplaces and e-commerce platforms to take down listings of prohibited vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products and novel tobacco products packaged, labeled, marketed or presented with flavor descriptors that are unduly appealing to the youth such as fruit, candy brand, dessert, cartoon character.
