Is One Country About to Lift Restrictions on Vaping?

A recent report has drawn attention: a country with more than 1 million vaping users is now calling for the lifting of its vaping ban.

According to available information, that country is Argentina in South America.

According to Argentine media outlet eleconomista, the Argentine Vaping Association is questioning the government’s measures regulating vaping products and is calling for independent regulation rather than treating them the same as traditional tobacco.

Argentina is one of the world’s strongest football nations, with a population of more than 40 million. Although vaping is banned in the country, the use of these products in Argentina is not legally penalized, and it is estimated that around 1 million people nationwide currently use vaping products.

Available information also shows that since 2011, the sale, import, distribution, promotion, and advertising of vaping products have been banned in Argentina. At the same time, starting in March 2023, the use of heated tobacco products was also prohibited. The reason given at the time was that “there is not enough scientific evidence to determine that these (vaping products) are safe for human consumption.”

Now, it appears that local groups are calling for vaping products to be regulated independently. The association’s president, Juan Facundo Teme, believes that the use of e-cigarettes has been stigmatized in Argentina. He urged the government to study regulatory frameworks in countries such as the UK and asked, “Why is the only option in Latin America prohibition?” He also said that ending the ban would formalize a market that, according to him, currently represents about US$90 million in Argentina. 

At present, the vaping market across South America is also drawing attention. Data shows that as the user base in Latin America expands, the region’s disposable e-cigarette market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.74% by 2028. In particular, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Brazil, and Costa Rica are all key markets in the region.

Whether this 11-year ban will finally begin to thaw is worth watching.

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