MANILA - The Department of Health called Wednesday for a ban on e-cigarettes as it stressed that vaping has no positive health effect.

Vaping or using e-cigarettes, is not a proven nicotine replacement therapy and can cause lung illness as well, Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo said.

“If the DOH had its way, we would go for an outright ban,” Domingo told reporters, noting that a bill is on the works for the proposal.

“Ang vape ay nakakasama sa ating kalusugan, hindi po ito ligtas,” he said.

(Vape is not good or safe for the health.)

At present, over 1 million Filipinos, or about 1 percent of the population are using e-cigarettes, Domingo said.

E-cigarettes are devices that vaporize a solution that users inhale. It does not use tobacco leaves, unlike regular cigarettes.

Its use became popular among Filipinos, particularly the youth, as the government implemented higher excise taxes on tobacco products, and the ban on smoking in public areas.

While long-term health impacts from vaping remain largely unknown, e-cigarettes were viewed as a healthier alternative that could help users quit smoking when they were first launched a few years ago.

But countries like South Korea and Malaysia have been considering pulling electronic cigarette products from markets and restricting advertising as vaping faces increased scrutiny.

- With reports from AFP, Reuters