Venezuelan Ministry of Health Prohibits Vapers and Electronic Cigarettes: Find out the Latest Regulations

2023-08-03 16:52:24

The Venezuelan Ministry of Health announced this Thursday, August 3, the prohibition of the use, sale, manufacture and distribution of vapers or electronic cigarettes in the country.

Through its official Twitter account, the Ministry of Health published excerpts from the Official Gazette No. 42,682dated Tuesday, August 1, which includes the resolution that prohibits the different stages of the commercialization and use of vapers in Venezuela.

Specifically, the resolution prohibits the manufacture, storage, distribution, circulation, commercialization, import, export, use, consumption, publicity, promotion and sponsorship of Electronic Nicotine Administration Systems (SEAN) and Similar Electronic Systems Without Nicotine (Sssn) .

The resolution also mentions that the ban covers consumables, tanks or cartridges, refill consumable containers and other accessories, Conventional Heated Tobacco Products (Conventional and Herbal PTC) and similar products.

According to the Gazette, all State institutions, businesses, premises, private and public areas, in addition to public transport, must have an advertisement 80 centimeters wide and 50 centimeters long with a text that notifies the prohibition and warns about sanctions for those who fail to comply.

“Whoever sells, supplies or delivers products that can cause physical or chemical dependence, will be sanctioned and penalized according to the legislationcurrent resolutions and regulations of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela”, will be read on each poster.

Through a Press releasethe Ministry of Health reported that studies and clinical trials conducted in Venezuela concluded that the use of vapers with and without nicotine contain “totally toxic substances that cause addiction and are harmful to health,” in addition to increasing the risk of heart and lung diseases. .

Previously, the administration of Nicolás Maduro had already prohibited the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors under 18 years of age and their use in closed environments, workplaces and interior areas of public spaces and transport.