Mexico Supreme Court Rules E-cigarette Ban Unconstitutional

Nov.11.2024
Mexico Supreme Court Rules E-cigarette Ban Unconstitutional
Mexico's Supreme Court ruled the ban on importing e-cigarettes and related products unconstitutional, benefiting Philip Morris International.

According to a report from Meganoticias on November 10th, the First Chamber of Mexico's Federal Supreme Court ruled that the ban on importing e-cigarettes and related products is unconstitutional.


The ruling was based on the Customs Law of June 7, 2022, and the project proposed by Judge Jorge Pardo Rebolledo received a majority vote. This decision is considered to be favorable to Philip Morris International (PMI) Mexico, as the law was deemed to impose excessive restrictions on commercial freedom.


The court ruled that allowing PMI to import e-cigarette devices does not mean unrestricted consumption of the solutions or substances used in these products. This decision does not amount to a blanket approval of e-cigarette usage and is limited to the mentioned company, and will not affect the potential introduction of other similar products in the market.


The project approved by the Supreme Court clearly states that this decision does not signify universal support for any type of e-cigarette substance, including heated tobacco and alternative nicotine consumption systems. The protective measures granted to PMI protect the company from future restrictions and establish a legal precedent that could impact future lawsuits. The ruling explicitly states that this protection will remain in place until the "Import and Export Tax Law" is amended, which is crucial for the tobacco industry and its derivative products.


According to estimates by the Mexican government, approximately 938,000 adolescents have tried these devices, with around 160,000 being regular users. Despite a ban in place, the number of e-cigarette users has significantly increased, with reports in 2023 indicating that the number of e-cigarette users has reached 2.1 million, a significant growth from 975,000 in 2019.


In October 2022, the Supreme Court of Mexico ruled that certain restrictions were unconstitutional, allowing certain groups to continue applying for protection to import and sell these products.


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

Türkiye Records 4,163 E-Cigarette Smuggling Raids Over Five Years, With Seizures Worth TRY 1.84 Billion
Türkiye Records 4,163 E-Cigarette Smuggling Raids Over Five Years, With Seizures Worth TRY 1.84 Billion
Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat disclosed enforcement figures on e-cigarette smuggling in response to a written parliamentary question. Over the past five years, Türkiye recorded 4,163 raids targeting e-cigarette smuggling, preventing illegal e-cigarettes, liquids and components worth TRY 1.84 billion, or about USD 40.68 million based on an exchange rate of USD 1 = TRY 45.2339, from reaching the market.
May.07 by 2FIRSTS.ai
WHO’s First Global Report on Nicotine Pouches: Harm Reduction Questions Remain Amid Global Regulatory Warning
WHO’s First Global Report on Nicotine Pouches: Harm Reduction Questions Remain Amid Global Regulatory Warning
Ahead of World No Tobacco Day 2026, WHO released its first global report on nicotine pouches, warning that rapid market growth, youth-oriented marketing and weak regulation are converging. 2Firsts views the report as an important warning, but not a complete risk assessment, with harm-reduction questions still unresolved.
Special Report
May.17
Tobacco Farming in the New Nicotine Era: Why Indian Farmers Struggle to Transition — Contributed by Samrat Chowdhery
Tobacco Farming in the New Nicotine Era: Why Indian Farmers Struggle to Transition — Contributed by Samrat Chowdhery
In this contributed article to 2Firsts, Mumbai-based journalist and harm reduction advocate Samrat Chowdhery examines India’s tobacco transition from the perspective of agriculture, supply chains and regulation. As noted by 2Firsts, India offers a relevant case for understanding how new nicotine technologies may affect not only consumption, trade and policy, but also tobacco farming.
Special Report
May.29
InterTabac 2026: First conference program highlights now available online
InterTabac 2026: First conference program highlights now available online
With three months to go before the international tobacco and nicotine industry gathers again in Dortmund, InterTabac, together with NUBIZ and InterSupply, is set to bring around 800 exhibitors from across the globe to eleven exhibition halls. The three events will showcase innovation, market trends and industry networking, while the first conference program highlights are now online, offering trade visitors keynotes, panel discussions and masterclasses to support business decision-making.
Events
Jun.22
AIR Shares Drop 18.6% in Nasdaq Debut, Testing Hookah’s Move Toward Public Markets
AIR Shares Drop 18.6% in Nasdaq Debut, Testing Hookah’s Move Toward Public Markets
AIR Global’s Nasdaq debut under ticker AIIR ended with a 18.6% first-day decline, giving the global hookah industry a rare public-market reference point. Beyond one company’s share move, the listing raises a broader question: can a culturally rooted, fragmented and venue-based category evolve into a more scalable and investable consumer sector?
Special Report
May.19
 BAT Raises Growth Outlook for Smokeless Products as Velo and Vuse Gain Momentum
BAT Raises Growth Outlook for Smokeless Products as Velo and Vuse Gain Momentum
British American Tobacco (BAT) has raised its growth outlook for smokeless products, forecasting “mid-teens” growth for its new category portfolio, including vaping and nicotine pouch products, while global cigarette volumes are expected to decline further.
BAT
Jun.02