THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has seized over P31 million worth of banned vape products since February 2023.
In a statement, the DTI said the government confiscated a total of 65,865 vape products from Feb. 9, 2023 to April 23 this year.
The agency also monitored 84,523 physical and online vape stores during the same period.
Of the monitored online and physical stores, the DTI said 298 were issued notices of violation (NOV) while 493 were issued show-cause orders (SCOs).
On Wednesday, a joint operation conducted by the DTI with the police resulted in the confiscation of 45,200 Flava vape products worth almost P25 million.
The DTI said vape products were seized from a shop, which branded itself as a milk tea outlet, located near Baclaran Elementary School in Parañaque. Republic Act 11900 or the Vape Law prohibits the sale of vape products within 100 meters of areas frequented by minors.
The DTI said the establishment also violated Section 12 of the law, which bans the sale of vapes with flavor descriptors targeting minors.
