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

BAT faces London shareholder lawsuit over alleged disclosure failures tied to North Korea business
BAT faces London shareholder lawsuit over alleged disclosure failures tied to North Korea business
British American Tobacco is facing a shareholder lawsuit in London alleging it failed to properly disclose to markets information about breaches of U.S. sanctions linked to its North Korea-related business. BAT agreed in 2023 to pay more than $635 million to U.S. authorities after a subsidiary admitted conspiring to violate U.S. sanctions by selling tobacco products to North Korea and committing bank fraud from 2007 to 2017.
Mar.05 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Singapore New bill would raise maximum fines to S$200,000 for sellers and S$300,000 for smugglers
Singapore New bill would raise maximum fines to S$200,000 for sellers and S$300,000 for smugglers
A bill introduced in Singapore’s Parliament on Feb. 12 proposes major increases in penalties for vaping-related offences, including higher maximum fines for users, sellers and smugglers. The draft would also rename the current Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act as the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act.
Feb.28 by 2FIRSTS.ai
FRE Nicotine Pouches Partners with Taylor Reimer Racing, Covering Four 2026 ARCA Events
FRE Nicotine Pouches Partners with Taylor Reimer Racing, Covering Four 2026 ARCA Events
FRE® Nicotine Pouches announced a partnership with Taylor Reimer Racing, becoming the Official Nicotine Sponsor for four races in the 2026 ARCA Menards Series and serving as the primary sponsor at events in Alabama, Michigan, Minnesota, and Arizona. FRE branding will appear on the race car, driver suit, and helmet, and the collaboration will also extend to off-track content and activations.
Feb.27
BAT Malaysia Launches Workforce Exercise to Improve Efficiency and Align With Future Business Direction
BAT Malaysia Launches Workforce Exercise to Improve Efficiency and Align With Future Business Direction
British American Tobacco Malaysia has announced a workforce optimisation exercise aimed at streamlining operations ahead of a major shift in its distribution strategy.
Apr.01 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Finnish Customs Investigate Firm Suspected of Importing and Selling Nicotine Pouches Without Paying Tobacco Tax
Finnish Customs Investigate Firm Suspected of Importing and Selling Nicotine Pouches Without Paying Tobacco Tax
Finnish Customs are investigating a firm suspected of importing and selling nicotine pouches without paying tobacco tax. Two Finnish citizens have been questioned as part of the probe. The authority believes the nicotine pouches were imported into Finland from other EU countries before being distributed to Finnish retailers.
Mar.11 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Rethinking Nicotine Harm Reduction: A Neuroscientist’s Perspective on Scientific Gaps and Future Directions — By Dr. Xin-an Liu
Rethinking Nicotine Harm Reduction: A Neuroscientist’s Perspective on Scientific Gaps and Future Directions — By Dr. Xin-an Liu
After France’s ANSES report on nicotine products and harm reduction, Dr. Xin-an Liu wrote to 2Firsts reassessing the field’s foundations. She argues the debate reveals gaps in evidence on long-term behavioral substitution, addiction pathways and neurobiological impacts, and calls for longitudinal research, integrated behavioral science and neuroimaging, clearer risk assessment and stronger transparency to ensure policy and next-generation product development rest on solid evidence.
Industry Insight
Feb.24