The Philippine Department Of Trade And Industry Criticized FLARE And SHFT For False Advertising And Released A List Of 9 Legal Brands

The Philippine Department of Trade and Industry criticized FLARE and SHFT for false advertising and released a list of 9 legal brands

The Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines refuted the false propaganda of FLARE and SHFT e-cigarette companies on social media, emphasizing that only brands with valid PS licenses, such as DON BARS, RELX and other brands, can be sold in the market.

On December 10, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) of the Philippines opposed the misleading posts posted on social media by e-cigarette companies FLARE and SHFT.

FLARE claimed that it was in full compliance with regulations, while SHFT shared photos of DTI staff without authorization. The DTI said that these posts misled the public's understanding of the department's responsibilities and violated Republic Act No. 7394, the "Consumer Code of the Philippines", which prohibits false, deceptive or misleading advertising; at the same time, according to Executive Order No. 2 issued by the DTI in 2007, it prohibits false, misleading information or concealment of important facts.

The DTI stressed that currently, only the following brands with valid Philippine Standard (PS) licenses are allowed to be sold in the Philippine market: DON BARS, KLIQ, ONE BAR, PHANTOM VAPE, RELX, TOMORO, TRUEZ, VAGEND, and X-VAPE.

The DTI urged e-cigarette companies to obtain and maintain valid PS licenses to ensure that their products meet safety and quality requirements before distribution. Any non-compliance will result in penalties or suspension of trading.