Venezuela joins a growing number of American countries in banning the use and marketing of electronic cigarettes to protect public health, aligning with the World Health Organization's (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The new regulation marks a significant move for the region, says Dr Anselm Hennis of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), urging more countries to take action against such detrimental products largely advertised to younger populations.
Currently, 21 countries in the Americas regulate electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) including e-cigarettes and vapes. Of these, eight (Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela) have enforced a total ban on sales, while the rest offer partial regulations. There are, however, still 14 countries without any regulation.
The recent Venezuelan resolution, effective since August 1, prohibits an array of activities concerning ENDS and electronic non-nicotine delivery systems [ENNDS], ranging from their manufacturing and storage to their distribution, advertisement, and promotion.
In addition to the highly addictive nicotine substance, the e-liquids contained in the most common form of ENDS, e-cigarettes, hold additives, flavourings, and chemicals that are harmful to user's health and those exposed. PAHO/WHO is urging governments to action regulations that not only ban the marketing of ENDS and their use in public places but also enforce taxes and other restrictions on them akin to standard tobacco products.
While implementation of measures following the FCTC's 2005 introduction has seen the percentage of smokers decrease from 28% down to 16.3% in 2020, this success is under threat from emerging tobacco and nicotine products. Worryingly, the percentage of adolescents between 13 and 15 years of age in the region using tobacco sits higher than the world average - 11.3% compared to 10.3%.
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