There’s a call from the Philippines House of Representatives for a congressional inquiry into the acceptance of grants from anti-tobacco groups by the Philippines Food and Drugs Administration (PFDA), an agency currently tasked to prepare the guidelines for the regulation of vapor products and heat-not-burn (HNB) tobacco products.
According to a report in the Manila Standard, representatives called for the suspension of public hearings on vape and HNB by PFDA following its admission that it received funds from foreign anti-vaping groups The Union and Bloomberg Initiative. PFDA held virtual public consultations on proposed guidelines for the regulation of vapor and HNB products this month
Rep. Victor Savellano, head of the tobacco-growing Northern Luzon Alliance called for a investigation on the conflict of interest posed by a government regulatory body receiving money from foreign groups with a vested interest. PFDA initially denied receiving foreign funds, but the grant is part of public records. The grant was given by Bloomberg as support to “the implementation of the National Tobacco Control Program under the jurisdiction of the [PFDA]. This includes supporting the implementation and notifications mechanisms for regulating tobacco product packaging and labeling, TAPS, tobacco product content and disclosure, and illicit trade.”
Confronted by evidence, PFDA recanted and admitted receipt of the funds.
“Isn’t this a conflict of interest because you are funded by Bloomberg for the National Tobacco Control Program? Isn’t this a conflict of interest in coming up with this regulation?” inquired one representative. “This grant might have pushed the policy directions for the regulations. This is important to us.”
“We have the right to know who we are talking to from the FDA,” said Savellano.