Market and legal data for the vapour sector in Panama

9th November 2023: World: The tenth Conference of the Parties (COP10) to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) has been postponed to 2024. COP10 was due to be held this month in Panama, but will now be held there at an undetermined date in 2024, according to FCTC authorities. They attributed the delay to “the current security situation in Panama”.
26th September 2023: Panama: The Supreme Court of Justice admitted a claim of unconstitutionality against Law 315, which prohibits the use, importation and commercialisation of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco, press reports. The plaintiffs, the Association for the Reduction of the Harm of Smoking, are basing their case on a formal issue, claiming that the legislative approval process did not comply with constitutional provisions. The lawsuit will now be analysed by the court.
4th September 2023: Paraguay: The National Health Surveillance Authority (Dinavisa) has sent a notice to the prosecutor's office reporting the widespread sale of illegal vapour products, press reports. The authority said that non-compliant products, in addition to not being notified to Dinavisa, are being freely sold in unauthorised retail outlets, and are exceeding the nicotine limit of 20 mg/ml. According to data published by the National Customs Authority, the amount of compliant vaping products imported into Paraguay between January 2022 and June 2023 was 1,572,959.
8th August 2023: Panama: The Association for the Reduction of the Harm of Smoking has filed a lawsuit before the Supreme Court to declare Law 315, which bans the use and sale of all e-cigarettes, unconstitutional, press reports. The plaintiffs base their case on a citizen’s right to choose, and hope for an end to the smuggling of e-cigs, with and without nicotine, into the country.
16th June 2023: EU: The minutes of the meeting of the European Commission (EC) Expert Group on Tobacco Policy that took place on 3rd May 2023 have been published today (16th June). Issues discussed included the revision of the Council Recommendation on Smoke-free Environments, recommending novel products be brought in line with combustible products, and the ongoing evaluation of the legislative framework for tobacco control. During the meeting, special relevance was placed on the tenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP10) to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), to be held in Panama in November 2023. The EC stressed the importance of EU member states speaking with one voice on all agenda items, especially because the ninth session was held virtually, so all substantive decisions were deferred to COP10.
1st July 2022: Panama: A law that forbids e-cigarettes, heated tobacco and other devices, with or without nicotine, was enacted today (1st July). The law makes an exception for free-trade zones, whose purpose is to export and re-export to a third country.

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