Philippine leader says to ban 'toxic' e-cigarettes and arrest users

(Language in 5th paragraph may offend some readers)
MANILA, Nov 20 (Reuters) - The Philippines will outlaw the
use and importation of e-cigarettes and arrest anyone using
them, its president said on Tuesday, joining a growing number of
nations moving to ban devices that have been linked to deaths
and addiction.
President Rodrigo Duterte announced the order during a late
night news conference after being asked about a Department of
Health report confirming the first case of lung injury related
to vaping in the country.
"I will ban it. The use and importation. You know why?
Because it is toxic and government has the power to issue
measures to protect public health and public interest," said
Duterte, who has also banned smoking cigarettes in public.
He also directed law enforcers to arrest anybody caught
vaping in public.
Duterte, 74, was himself once a heavy smoker but quit when
he was diagnosed as suffering from Buerger's disease, which can
cause blockages in the blood vessels.
"This vaping, they say it is electronic. Don't give me that
shit. Better stop it, I will order your arrest if you do it in a
room... That is like smoking. You contaminate people," he said.
The ban could curb expansion plans of companies such as U.S.
e-cigarette maker Juul Labs, which has been launching its
products in international markets, including the Philippines,
amid a widening crackdown on vaping at home.
The world's vaping industry, which has seen rapid growth,
has faced a growing public backlash over concerns of increased
use by young people.
India, which has the second-largest population of adult
smokers in the world, banned the sale of e-cigarettes in
September as it warned of a vaping "epidemic" among young
people.
Public health officials in the United States recommended not
using e-cigarettes after several deaths and hundreds of cases of
illnesses linked to e-cigarette use were reported.
The global market for e-cigarettes was worth $15.7 billion
in 2018, data from Euromonitor International showed, and is
projected to more than double to $40 billion in 2023.
Malaysia also wants to club e-cigarettes and vaporisers
together with tobacco products under a single law that would
prohibit promotions and advertising, usage in public areas and
use by minors, its health ministry has said.