According to Infobae, the Panamanian authorities are seeking to establish a unified regulatory framework to prohibit the use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products in both public and private settings, as well as to ban their advertising, promotion, and use in commercial contexts.
To this end, members of the Labor, Health and Social Development Subcommittee of the National Assembly of Panama are promoting the establishment of a technical roundtable to discuss, refine and unify three bills aimed at regulating these products.
Bill No. 263. This bill prohibits the use, importation and commercialization of electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco and other similar devices, regardless of whether they contain nicotine.
Bill No. 347. This bill intends to amend Law No. 13 of January 24, 2008, to include provisions prohibiting the use of electronic cigarettes in public and private places.
Bill No. 467 is also in the same review stage. This bill covers the use, commercialization, advertising, quality and safety of electronic cigarettes, mouthpiece consumption bags, heating products for inhalation, e-liquid and non-nicotine-like systems, and proposes to amend the relevant provisions of Law No. 45 of 1995 and make other regulations.
The proposer of Bill No. 263, Congressman Crispiano Adames, stated that there is currently a significant opportunity to integrate and streamline three legislative proposals in order to formulate a firm, secure and stable regulatory framework.
Previously, Panama had Law No. 315 which prohibited the use and commercialization of these products. However, after these laws were challenged in court by the Panama Association for the Reduction of Tobacco Hazards and a non-smoking Panama smokers and their families association, the Supreme Court ruled them unconstitutional. These organizations argued that they should have the right to have alternative choices besides traditional tobacco.
Subsequently, the Panamanian Ministry of Health established a regulatory framework in 2025 to regulate rather than prohibit the commercialization, use and import of e-cigarettes, and to emphasize the protection of minors.
The Panama National Customs Administration stated that the agency is highly concerned about issues related to electronic devices or e-cigarettes.
image source: Infobae