Shopee, Lazada urged to not carry unregistered heated tobacco, vape products

A consumer advocacy group urged major e-commerce platforms Shopee and Lazada to take immediate action against unregistered and untaxed cigarettes, heated tobacco products and vapes that are proliferating in their online stores.

In separate letters to Shopee Philippines and Lazada Philippines, the National Consumers Union of the Philippines Inc. (NCUP) said, This request is to protect consumer rights and welfare, noting the proliferation of illicit or unregistered tobacco products and vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products displayed and sold on both platforms.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed the use of and reliance on e-commerce platforms, there has also been a marked increase in illicit products in e-commerce platforms that ultimately harm the rights and welfare of consumers, said NCUP president Antonio P. Israel.

We submit that all sellers (both online and at physical stores), importers, and distributors of cigarettes, HTPs, and vapor products observe the rules and laws to combat the unintended use of these products and ensure the fair collection of correct government taxes, said Israel.