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

Canada Studies UK-Style “Smoke-Free Generation” Tobacco Ban
Canada Studies UK-Style “Smoke-Free Generation” Tobacco Ban
Canada’s federal health minister, Majorie Michel, said she is looking into legislation that would permanently ban the sale of tobacco products to anyone born after 2008. She said Canada has seen the approach recently proposed in the United Kingdom and is reviewing it with partners. Health Canada previously said the Government of Canada has invested C$66 million annually since 2018 to help Canadians quit smoking and reduce the harms of nicotine addiction.
Apr.29 by 2FIRSTS.ai
CBP and FDA Seize 18 Million Illegal Vapes Worth $175 Million in Maritime Cargo Operation
CBP and FDA Seize 18 Million Illegal Vapes Worth $175 Million in Maritime Cargo Operation
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that more than 18 million illegal e-cigarettes valued at over $175 million were seized during “Operation Red Mist,” a joint enforcement initiative involving the U.S. Coast Guard and the FDA. The operation primarily targeted maritime vape shipments originating from China and focused on combating illicit importation, transportation, and distribution activities.
Regulations
May.14
Ukrainian Lawmaker Proposes Ban on Vapes, Heated Tobacco Devices and Hookahs for Under-17s
Ukrainian Lawmaker Proposes Ban on Vapes, Heated Tobacco Devices and Hookahs for Under-17s
Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada has registered a bill that would ban the use of tobacco products, vapes, hookahs, herbal smoking mixtures and heated tobacco devices by people under 17. The bill was introduced by People’s Deputy Georgiy Mazurashu and has already been sent to the relevant parliamentary committee. The author said one reason for the initiative is the prevalence of vaping among adolescents.
Apr.28 by 2FIRSTS.ai
 FDA Begins Review of 22nd Century’s VLN MRTP Renewal Applications
FDA Begins Review of 22nd Century’s VLN MRTP Renewal Applications
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has initiated scientific review of renewal applications for 22nd Century Group’s VLN reduced-nicotine cigarettes under the Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP) pathway, with current authorizations set to expire in December 2026.
News
May.13
New Movement Emerges on EU Tobacco Excise Directive as Cyprus Tables Compromise Draft
New Movement Emerges on EU Tobacco Excise Directive as Cyprus Tables Compromise Draft
The long-stalled debate over the European Union’s Tobacco Excise Directive may be moving forward, with Cyprus, as holder of the EU Council presidency, putting forward a compromise draft. The reported proposal includes lowering the minimum excise duty requirement and granting a transitional period, with the aim of reaching political agreement by June 2026. The revision also covers e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, nicotine pouches and stronger controls on raw tobacco.
Apr.21 by 2FIRSTS.ai
India Seizes $14 Million Worth of Illegal Vaping Products Imported From China
India Seizes $14 Million Worth of Illegal Vaping Products Imported From China
India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized approximately 300,000 illegal e-cigarettes and vaping devices worth more than ₹120 crore (approximately $14 million) during coordinated multi-state enforcement operations.
Regulations
May.22