Type of stores purchased from.

In the Philippines, the regulation of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products (HTPs), and nicotine pouches under Republic Act 11900 or the Vape Law is crucial as their use continues to rise. As e-cigarettes are rapidly gaining popularity due to their social appeal, perceived novelty, ever-changing flavors, and sensations that are attractive to consumers, HTPs and nicotine pouches are continuously developing as well. This study aims to characterize e-cigarette, HTP, and nicotine pouch flavor descriptors in the Philippines and to assess the regulatory implications of existing policies regulating these products. We adapted the Tobacco Pack Surveillance System (TPackSS) data collection protocol developed by the Institute for Global Tobacco Control and employed both inductive and deductive thematic analyses to categorize flavor descriptors from 278 e-cigarette, HTP, and nicotine pouch products. We identified 11 categories of flavor descriptors: colors (18.08%), fruits (15.07%), codes or acronym-like descriptors (13.70%), concept descriptors (12.05%), menthol (10.96%), beverages (9.86%), sweet (8.22%), miscellaneous (5.48%), pop culture (3.56%), tobacco (2.47%), and nuts (0.55%). We also examined the flavor imagery, marketing tactics, and promotional strategies on these products. To effectively regulate e-cigarettes, HTPs, and nicotine pouches, we recommend streamlining their governing policies. Establishing a complete flavor ban on appealing flavors, descriptors, and imagery is crucial to curbing use. Additionally, increasing taxation and implementing plain packaging can reduce the marketing appeal of these products, thereby enhancing prevention and control efforts.

在菲律宾，随着电子烟（e-cigarettes）、加热烟草制品（Heated Tobacco Products, HTPs）以及尼古丁袋（nicotine pouches）的使用量持续攀升，依据第11900号共和国法案（Republic Act 11900）即《电子烟法》（Vape Law）对其实施监管至关重要。由于电子烟凭借社交吸引力、新颖的使用体验、层出不穷的口味以及对消费者极具吸引力的感官体验迅速走红，加热烟草制品与尼古丁袋也在持续发展。本研究旨在刻画菲律宾境内电子烟、加热烟草制品及尼古丁袋的风味描述语特征，并评估现有针对此类产品的监管政策所产生的监管影响。我们采用了全球烟草控制研究所（Institute for Global Tobacco Control）开发的烟草包装监测系统（Tobacco Pack Surveillance System, TPackSS）数据收集方案，并结合归纳式与演绎式主题分析法，对278款电子烟、加热烟草制品及尼古丁袋产品的风味描述语进行分类。我们共识别出11类风味描述语：色彩类（18.08%）、水果类（15.07%）、代码或类缩写描述语（13.70%）、概念类描述语（12.05%）、薄荷醇类（10.96%）、饮料类（9.86%）、甜味类（8.22%）、其他类（5.48%）、流行文化类（3.56%）、烟草类（2.47%）以及坚果类（0.55%）。此外，我们还分析了此类产品上的风味视觉意象、营销手法与推广策略。为实现对电子烟、加热烟草制品及尼古丁袋的有效监管，我们建议精简其监管政策。对极具吸引力的风味、描述语及视觉意象实施全面风味禁令，对遏制产品使用至关重要。此外，提高税收与推行无装饰包装（plain packaging）可降低此类产品的营销吸引力，以此强化疾病预防与产品管控工作。