Costa Rican President signs new regulations to strengthen supervision of e-cigarettes and related products

Costa Rican President signs new regulations to strengthen supervision of e-cigarettes and related products

The Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and the President of Costa Rica jointly signed two important regulations, including the regulation of e-cigarettes, aimed at strengthening the control of e-cigarette products and reducing their use.

On October 9, according to the official website of the Ministry of Health of Costa Rica, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and the President of the Republic jointly signed two important regulations, one of which involves the regulation of e-cigarettes and related products.

The first is about the revision of Act No. 10,066. The bill mainly regulates electronic nicotine delivery systems (SEAN), similar systems without nicotine (SSSN) and electronic devices and similar technologies that use heated tobacco. The original bill did not cover important aspects such as specific goals, smoking cessation programs, label management, advertising, and comprehensive attention to the use of e-cigarettes. Therefore, in the second half of 2023, the Ministry of Health began to draft a bill aimed at reducing the use of e-cigarettes.

Dr. Alfonso Tenorio, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Pan American Health Organization (OPS) representative in Costa Rica, said,

"E-cigarettes and other similar products are highly addictive and pose a great threat to the health of users and those who come into contact with them. OPS and WHO believe that countries need to urgently implement measures to curb the use of these substances and devices."

In addition, another new regulation concerns the Ministry of Health's authorization of health products for free zone companies.