The new legislation adopted in Colombia incorporates vaping devices and e-cigarettes under the regulations of the Anti-Tobacco Law, which set a precedent in the fight against the impact of addictive substances.
On Tuesday, April 2nd, the Congress of the Republic of Colombia took a step in protecting public health by approving a bill in its final debate that imposes restrictions on the use of vaping devices and e-cigarettes in the country. This project, aimed at regulating the consumption of these products, was received with enthusiasm by various sectors of society, who consider it a crucial measure to safeguard the health of the Colombian population.
The bill, approved in its fourth and final debate in the legislature, aims primarily to incorporate vaping devices and e-cigarettes into Law 1335 of 2009, better known as the Anti-Tobacco Law. This implies that measures such as restrictions on tobacco product advertising, smoking bans in indoor public places, and the implementation of measures to prevent consumption will now also apply to vaping devices and e-cigarettes.
The initiative, led by Representative Carolina Giraldo of the Green Alliance party, represents a milestone in Colombian legislation by addressing aspects such as labeling, minimum age for purchase, places of consumption, among others, which until now lacked regulation in the country. According to the congresswoman, “it is crucial to advance in the regulation of these products to protect public health and discourage their consumption.”
Controls on Minors One of the highlights of the bill is the prohibition of selling these electronic products to minors, a provision that was based on the alarming increase in “vaping” among young people and the evidence from various studies pointing to health risks associated with their problematic use.
Norma Hurtado and José David Name, along with Representative Víctor Manuel Salcedo, from the Party of the U, were the main proponents of this measure. “Since vaping devices come in flavors, young people don’t know what they’re consuming. I have people on my team who have been affected by these devices, but mainly because they don’t know what they contain,” said Representative Giraldo, emphasizing the need to regulate these products to protect the population, especially young people, from the health risks they entail.
The law also establishes obligations such as warning labeling, regulation of advertising, and prohibition of sponsorship by manufacturing companies, all aimed at discouraging their consumption and protecting the health of the Colombian population.
Colombia, Second Country in E-Cigarette Consumption in the Region The debate on the regulation of vaping devices and e-cigarettes in Colombia was marked by the analysis of various studies showing the growing use of these products among the population, especially among young people.
During the discussions in Congress, alarming data from studies such as the Third Andean Epidemiological Study on Drug Use in University Population and the National Survey on Youth Tobacco Use 2017 were presented, helping to substantiate the need to pass the bill.
Some of the figures revealed in these studies and presented in Congress include:
- In 2016, the prevalence of ever using vaping devices and e-cigarettes was 16.1%, indicating a considerable penetration of these products in Colombian society.
- Colombia ranks as the second country with the highest consumption of these products in the region, surpassed only by Ecuador, reflecting the magnitude of the problem and the urgency of taking measures to address it.
- 51.1% of schoolchildren surveyed have heard about the existence of vaping devices and e-cigarettes, with Bogotá and Medellín being the cities where there is the highest awareness of these products.
- 15.4% of schoolchildren reported having experience with the use of e-cigarettes, a worrying figure that reveals the high prevalence of consumption among Colombian youth, especially in urban areas and unofficial schools.
- Urgent measures were discussed in Congress to counteract the increase in vaping among minors.
- Comparing the consumption of these products with the consumption of other tobacco products, it was found that the consumption of e-cigarettes is equal to the consumption of traditional cigarettes, both with a prevalence of 9%, demonstrating the equal popularity of both products among young people.
- Additionally, 13.7% of students in Colombia believe that vaping devices and e-cigarettes are less harmful than regular cigarettes, a misconception highlighting the need to implement education and awareness-raising measures about the health risks associated with the use of these products.
