According to Infobae's report on August 21st, the Colombian Congress is planning to increase taxes on tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.
According to the latest research on substance consumption, the usage rate of e-cigarettes among students aged 12 to 18 in Colombia reached 11.2% in the past month. In order to address this issue, Congress proposed a bill on August 21 aimed at increasing taxes on traditional cigarettes and establishing a new tax category for e-cigarettes.
The draft has received support from multiple scientific and civil organizations.
This legislation aims not only to raise the price of Colombian cigarettes to a level comparable to other leading countries in the Americas, but also to implement a unified tax structure for e-cigarettes and their components. This way, all nicotine products will receive fair tax treatment under the new health regulations taking effect this May.
According to data from Colombia's National Administrative Department of Statistics (Dane), tobacco consumption has significantly decreased over the past decade, thanks to similar fiscal measures. It has decreased from 8.3% in 2016 to 5.6% in 2021.
The draft states that promotional activities and price reductions of e-cigarettes have led to a sharp increase in underage consumption, thus necessitating stricter tax policies. The document also mentions that these measures aim to reduce the 34,800 smoking-related deaths annually and raise approximately 1.4 billion Colombian pesos (around 350 million dollars).
The proposal also focuses on targeting the marketing strategies of tobacco companies towards young people and vulnerable groups. Several organizations, including Anáas Foundation, Red PaPaz, Colombian Cancer Association, and National Cancer Institute, have expressed their support for the proposal.
One of the key focuses of this bill is to protect the environment from pollution caused by disposable e-cigarettes and traditional cigarette butts.
These measures have received support from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO). At the same time, organizations such as the Colombian Pulmonology Society, Colombian Internal Medicine Association (ACMI), and Colombian Family Medicine Association have also expressed their support.
We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.
Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn
Notice
1. This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.
2. The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.
3. This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.
4. Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.
Copyright
This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.
For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com
AI Assistance Disclaimer
This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.
We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com
