Request for Repealing E-Cigarette Ban Sent to Newly Elected Argentine President

Recently, according to a statement on the official website of the World e-cigarette Alliance, the Association of Argentine e-cigarette Vapers (Asovape Argentina) and the World e-cigarette Alliance have submitted a request to the newly elected President of Argentina, Javier Milei, to repeal the regulations outlined in the Drug, Food, and Medical Technology Management Law 3226/2011 which bans the sale of e-cigarettes.

The regulation took effect on May 6, 2011, and prohibits the importation, distribution, sale, promotion, and advertising of e-cigarettes in Argentina.

A public letter highlights that multiple studies conducted since the implementation of various bans on e-cigarettes have demonstrated the risks of e-cigarette usage among the youth, their potential for smoking cessation, and the low health risks associated with nicotine. Juan Facundo Teme, president of the Argentine E-cigarette Association, remarked that this prohibition is inconsistent with respecting the personal freedom and rights of adult individuals in Argentina. It also infringes upon the rights and freedoms of adults in Argentina and should be repealed immediately.

Taimur releases a statement stating,

The country should not dictate how Argentinians consume nicotine and should respect individual decisions to choose e-cigarettes as a way to reduce the demand for nicotine. Furthermore, he mentioned that all arguments in favor of the ban have been debunked.

Argentina has a smoking rate of 24.5%, making it the second highest in Latin America and one of the highest among countries worldwide.

Taimo expressed that "smoking is a major problem for Argentina, and the ban has only exacerbated this issue. It spreads the incorrect notion that e-cigarettes are just as bad or even worse than smoking, making it difficult for millions of smokers to switch to safer alternatives and leading thousands of e-cigarette users back to tobacco. By providing clear information about e-cigarettes and implementing appropriate regulations, we can effectively and significantly reduce the smoking rate.

Alberto Gomez Hernandez, the policy manager of the World E-Cigarette Alliance, commented that Argentina is one of the most stringent countries in the region when it comes to e-cigarette restrictions, and as a result, it also has the highest smoking rate.

Michael Landl, director of the World Vape Alliance, added, "Argentina's attitude towards e-cigarettes is outdated and incompatible with respecting consumers' personal freedoms. Argentina now has a great opportunity to take the lead and adopt the practices of countries like Sweden or the UK, which both respect users' choices and improve public health. Sweden is on the verge of becoming the first smoke-free country thanks to this approach, and smoking rates in the UK are rapidly declining. We encourage President Milei and his government to follow these examples. Using e-cigarettes is not a crime and should be legalized immediately.