Leaders in Latin American vape sector fear further e-cig restrictions at COP10

Leaders of vaping associations in Latin America have told ECigIntelligence they anticipate further restrictions and reinforced regional bans on tobacco alternative products to result from the tenth Conference of the Parties (COP10) to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), which starts in Panama today.

Vaping association leaders in Mexico, Panama and Argentina – where sales, distribution and consumption of e-cigarettes have been banned in some form in recent years – have told ECigIntelligence they expect conversations at the COP10-MOP3 (third session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products) conference to centre around stricter enforcement of tobacco alternative products in Latin America and a possible change in regulation that would equate the usage/consumption of tobacco smoke and e-cigarette vapour in the eyes of the law.