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Tag: Nicotine Consumption Union of the Philippines

  • PMI Moving Toward Smoke-Free Goals in Philippines

    PMI Moving Toward Smoke-Free Goals in Philippines

    PMFTC Inc., the combination of Philip Morris International and Fortune Tobacco Corporation in the Philippines, said nearly 150,000 adult Filipino users have switched to cigarette alternatives like IQOS and ZYN nicotine pouches, accounting for 42% of the company’s revenue thus far in 2025.

    PMI’s goal is to have two-thirds of its net revenue come from smoke-free products or alternatives by 2030.

    “This growth underscores our commitment to accelerating the transition away from cigarettes and toward better alternatives,” PMFTC said. “This shift underscores our commitment to accelerating the decline of cigarette consumption by offering scientifically substantiated, less harmful options compared to continued smoking.”

    Tomoko Iida, director of scientific engagement at PMI said the Philippines is still in the early stages of the company’s smoke-free vision, having only seen a slight increase in the use of smoke-free alternative products and a slight decrease in cigarette consumption. She said that consumers receiving accurate information about nicotine products will be key.

    “I really think that having the smoke-free alternative available so that the smokers can move away from cigarettes and switch to this alternative is serving the population, serving the government, and really meeting the public health goal,” she said. “Facts about nicotine, facts about smoke-free products, facts about the data or any of these things have to be accurately communicated so that the Filipino smokers have the right information and they’re able to make a better choice for themselves.”

  • Stakeholders Welcome ‘Economic Sabotage’ Law

    Stakeholders Welcome ‘Economic Sabotage’ Law

    Photo: PMFTC

    Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sept. 26 signed a law protecting the agricultural sector, including tobacco growers, from illegal products, reports the Manila Standard.

    The Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act aims to make food more affordable and provide better income to local farmers. The law classifies smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, cartel formation and financing of these crimes involving agricultural and fishery products as acts of economic sabotage. Violators risk life imprisonment and fines up to five times the value of the goods involved.

    “We are deeply grateful to President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. and his administration for their unwavering support in enacting this law,” said Saturnino Distor, president of the Philippine Tobacco Growers Association (PTGA), after the signing of Republic Act No. 12022. “With its implementation, we are hopeful that tobacco farming will receive adequate protection against the entry of illegal products.”

    The PTGA, which represents 50,000 tobacco farmers, described the law as a critical step to protect the industry from smuggled tobacco. Distor noted that illegal cigarettes harm farmers, especially with the rising prices of legal cigarettes due to tax increases. “We hope the government’s action against smugglers will improve the state of Philippine tobacco and bring relief to our farmers and their families,” he said.

    “We’ve seen the damaging impact of smuggling, particularly the proliferation of fake and illegal nicotine products,” said Anton Israel, founder of the Nicotine Consumption Union of the Philippines. “This new law strengthens the fight against illicit cigarette and e-cigarette trade,” he said.