ANNEX A  
Vapor Product Refill Standards  
 
GUIDELINES  
1. Contents of vapor product refill shall meet the regulations stipulated below and shall 
not contain any impurities that will redound to harm or adverse health.  
 
1.1. Propylene glycol (CAS No. 57 -55-6), when used, shall comply with the 
requirements of the pharmacopoeia adopted and recognized by the FDA.  Purity 
shall be rated at 99.5% or higher.  
 
1.2. Vegetable glycerin (CAS No. 56 -81-5), when used, shall comply with the 
requirements of the pharmacopoeia adopted an d recognized by the FDA. The 
glycerol to be used in electronic cigarette refill solutions should be of plant origin, 
from vegetable glycerin.  
 
1.3. Water, if used, shall be purified in bulk and shall conform to the Philippine National 
Standards for Drinking Wat er. 
 
1.4. Ethanol (CAS No. 64 -17-5), when used, shall be of food grade, with purity rated at 
not less than 95%.  
 
1.5. Nicotine 3 -{2S)-1-methylpyrrolidin -2-yl]pyridine (CAS no. 56 -81-5) shall comply 
with the requirements of the pharmacopoeia adopted and recognized by  the FDA, 
with purity rated at no less than 99%. No electronic cigarette products shall have a 
concentration of more than 65 mg/mL.  
 
1.6. The flavoring compounds and additives, except for colorants, for use in vapor 
product refill shall be at least food grade a nd, where applicable, must meet the 
appropriate Codex Alimentarius standards for food additives (CXS 192 -1995).  
2. The following ingredients shall be banned from the contents of vapor product refills.  
 
2.1. No pharmacologically active molecule, except for nicotine, shall be used as an 
ingredient in the formulation/manufacture of vapor product refills. These include 
all medicinal, stimulant, anabolic and narcotic substances especially those listed 
under RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 200 2 and its related 
implementing rules and regulations and issuances.  
 
2.2. Likewise, herbal medicine and therapy, nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, 
aromatherapy ingredients, and vitamins and minerals as food supplements shall not 
be used as ingredients in the form ulation/manufacture of vapor product refills.  
 2.3. No oil or fat, of mineral origin including essential or aromatic oils shall be used as 
an ingredient in the manufacture of a vapor product refills.  
 
2.4. Vapor product refill formulations with Globally Harmonized S ystem for the 
Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), Acute Toxicity Categories 1 and 
2 shall not be allowed.  
 
2.5. Ingredients that are considered as carcinogenic, mutagenic, and/or reprotoxic 
(CMR) and those that are known to have Specific Target Org an Toxicity (STOT) 
such as, but not limited to, items under Table 1  “Substances with 
Carcinogenicity, Mutagenicity, Reproductive Toxicity and/or Specific Target 
Organ Toxicity,”  shall not be used as ingredients in the formulation of vapor 
product refills.  
 
2.5.1.  Releasers of formaldehyde and other carcinogenic intermediates such as, 
but not limited to, items under Table 2  “Releasers of Aldehydes and 
Other Carcinogenic Intermediates”  are banned from vapor product 
refills.  
 
2.5.2.  There shall be no radioactive substances used in vapor product refills.  
2.6. Irritants and sensitizers such as those in the non -exhaustive list in Table 3 
“Irritants and Sensitizers”  shall not be allowed for use in vapor product refills.  
2.7. The preservatives and antiseptics in Table 4 “Banned Preservatives and 
Antiseptics”  shall not be used as ingredients in the manufacture of vapor product 
refills.  
2.8. All ingredients that serve the sole purpose of colorants are banned for use in vapor 
product refills.  
2.9. All flavors other than plain menthol and plai n tobacco shall not be allowed for use 
in vapor product refills.  
2.10. The limits in Table 5  “Maximum Allowed Trace Levels”  shall constitute 
technically unavoidable trace levels of contaminants of vapor product refills, for 
the purposes of this Circular Administrative Order.    Table 1  
Substances with Carcinogenicity, Mutagenicity, Reproductive Toxicity and/or Specific 
Target O rgan Toxicity  
Ingredient  CAS Number  
Cinnamaldehyde  104-55-2 
Diacetyl  431-03-8 
2,3-Butanedione  600-14-6 
Tocopheryl acetate  7695 -91-2 
Acetyl propionyl  600-14-6 
Ethylene glycol  107-21-1 
Diethylene glycol  111-46-6 
   
Table 2   
Releasers of Aldehydes and Other Carcinogenic Intermediates  
Ingredient  CAS Number  
Sugars  Glucose  50-99-7 
Fructose  57-48-7 
Lactose  63-42-3 
Maltose  6363 -53-7 
Saccharose  126-14-7 
Acesulfame potassium  55589 -62-3 
Aspartame  22839 -47-0 
Sodium saccharinate  128-44-9 
Rebaudioside -A (Stevia)  58543 -16-1 
Formaldehyde Formers  
Quartenium 15  4080 -31-3 
Imidazolidinyl Urea  39236 -46-9 
Diazolidinyl Urea  78491 -02-8 2-bromo -2-nitropropane -1,3-diol or 2-Bromo -2nitro -1,3-
propanediol  52-51-7 
DMDM hydantoin or dimethyloldimethyl hydantoin  6440 -58-0 
(Benzyloxy)methanol or Phenylmethoxymethanol  14548 -60-8 
2-Chloro -N-(Hydroxymethyl) acetamide 2832 -19-1 2832 -19-1 
Hexahydro -1,3,5 -tris(hydroxyethyl) -s-triazine  4719 -04-4 
Sodium hydroxymethyl glycinate  70161 -44-3 
  
Table 3   
Irritants and Sensitizers   
Ingredient  CAS Number  
Phenoxyethanol  122-99-6 
2,5-Dimethypyrazine  123-32-0 
Vanillin  121-33-5 
   
Table 4  Banned Preservatives  
Ingredient  CAS Number  
DMDM hydantoin or dimethyloldimethyl hydantoin  6440 -58-0 
Triclosan  3380 -34-5 
Isopropylparaben (and its salts)  4191 -73-5 
Isobutylparaben  4247 -02-3 
Phenylparaben  17696 -62-7 
Benzylparaben  94-18-8 
Pentylparaben  6521 -29-5 
Isothiazolinone  1003 -07-02 
Methylisothiazolinone  2682 -20-4 
Methylchloroisothiazolinone  26172 -55-4 
  
Table 5  
Maximum Allowed Trace Levels  Compound  Limit Value  
Aldehydes  Formaldehyde (CAS No. 50 -00-0) 22 mg/L  
  Acrolein (CAS No. 107-02-08) 22 mg/L  
  Acetaldehyde  (CAS No. 75 -07-0) 22 mg/L  
Heavy metals  Lead (Pb) (CAS No. 7439 -92-1) 10 mg/L  
  Arsenic (As) (CAS No. 7440 -38-2) 3 mg/L  
  Cadmium (Cd) (CAS No. 1306 -19-0) 1 mg/L  
  Mercury (Hg) (CAS No. 7439 -97-6) 1 mg/L  
  Antimony (Sb) (CAS No. 7440 -36-0) 5 mg/L