Shaping the Future: Proposed Bills to Regulate New and Emerging Tobacco and Nicotine Products in Latin America and the Caribbean Amidst Public Health Concerns and Industry Interests

Abstract

Introduction: To examine legislative efforts to regulate new and emerging tobacco and nicotine products (NETNPs) in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) between 2017 and 2022.

Aims and methods: Analysis of online national legislation databases to track NETNP bills using standard snowball search methods.

Results: Bills were identified in 15 out of the 33 LAC countries, accounting for a total of 91 bills targeting NETNPs. Mexico had the highest number (n = 38) of bills, followed by Brazil (n = 16), Argentina (n = 10), Colombia (n = 8), and Chile (n = 5). The remaining countries introduced two or fewer NETNP bills. Among the identified 91 bills, the majority (n = 60) addressed both electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products (HTPs), almost one-third of bills (n = 29) applied only to electronic cigarettes, and only two focused solely on HTPs. Six of the fifteen countries with identified bills, enacted one NETNP law including Barbados, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Mexico, and Panama. Since 2019, there has been a steady increase in the amount of NETNP bills introduced in LAC. In 2017 and 2018, 10 NETNP bills were introduced each year followed by 23 NETNP bills introduced in each 2019 and 2020, 19 in 2021, and 16 by August 2022.

Conclusions: The substantial increase in the number of NETNP bills introduced since 2019 indicates the growing importance of regulating NETNPs in LAC. As NETNPs continue to evolve and grow it is important to continue monitoring and evaluating tobacco and nicotine regulatory initiatives while also staying ahead of the evolving market of NETNPs.

Implications: Previous studies have analyzed the regulatory environment of NETNPs but it is less known about legislative and regulatory efforts and attempts. This is the first known study to analyze legislative bills to regulate NETNPs in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The substantial increase in the number of NETNP bills introduced in LAC since 2019 indicates the growing importance of regulating NETNPs in LAC. As NETNPs continue to evolve and grow it is important to continue monitoring and evaluating tobacco and nicotine regulatory initiatives while also staying ahead of the evolving market of NETNPs.