The Senate of Mexico has passed legal reforms that could impose up to eight years in prison and fines of 226,000 pesos ($12,500) for producing or selling vapes and electronic cigarettes. Critics say the measures are too strict and could create enforcement challenges.
The reforms, which amend the General Health Law, were ratified late Wednesday by pro-government senators after passing the lower house on Tuesday. They now await enactment by President Claudia Sheinbaum, who supports the legislation.
President Sheinbaum said, “There’s this idea that not smoking tobacco or a cigarette can be replaced by using a vape, and the truth is that vapes, in some cases, are even more harmful than cigarettes. You shouldn’t smoke cigarettes, and you shouldn’t use vapes.”
Mexico banned smoking in most public spaces nearly two decades ago, following a global push for anti-tobacco measures. In recent years, the government has focused on limiting the sale of vapes and e-cigarettes, which remain prohibited in Argentina and Brazil due to health concerns. The new reforms do not ban the actual use of vapes, only their production and sale.
Sheinbaum also highlighted efforts to prevent illegal markets, citing concerns about organized crime involvement in the sale of vaping products. However, she did not specify when the new rules would take effect.
Opposition Senator Luis Colosio criticized the reforms, calling them “prohibitionist.” He argued that the government is avoiding proper regulation by opting for a strict ban instead. “Prohibitions are nothing more than an easy way out of a problem they either don’t want to or can’t control,” Colosio said during Thursday’s debate.
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Despite the reforms, vapes and e-cigarettes are still easily available in retail stores across Mexico City. Many residents continue to purchase them cheaply, raising questions about how enforcement will be handled at the local level.
