Production of vapes banned
The Constitutional Affairs Committee also approved a ban on the production, distribution, marketing and sale of electronic cigarettes and vapers, considering that these devices pose health risks to those who consume them.
This reform, approved with 21 votes in favor and 15 against, modifies articles 4 and 5 of the Constitution to prohibit the production, distribution and sale of toxic substances, chemical precursors and synthetic drugs not legally authorized, such as the illicit use of fentanyl. In addition, the profession, industry, domestic or foreign trade, work or any other activity for the production, distribution and sale of electronic cigarettes and vapers was prohibited.
During the discussion, opposition deputies criticized Morena for seeking to ban vapers from the Constitution, saying that this document establishes rights, obligations and general principles, but not regulations.
“The Morena deputies were very conservative, conservative and disconcerting. Look at them discussing this to prohibit it in the Constitution. I am not against the substance of the matter, but it is an issue that we can regulate, that we can combat piracy that generates the use of doubly harmful substances in vapers, we can do preventive campaigns, but not from the Constitution,” said the PRI member Marco Mendoza.
Meanwhile, Congresswoman Irma Juan Carlos recalled that this reform was proposed by President López Obrador “who has been concerned about his people and has taken preventive measures to solve the various problems we face.”
The president’s initiative claims that vape labels state that they contain flavorings and nicotine. However, he claims that a chromatographic analysis carried out by the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris) found the presence of other substances that are highly toxic for human consumption.
While the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned of the alarming risk of these electronic devices or vapers containing glycerin, propylene glycol and glycerol, which when degraded produce a toxin that when coming into contact with the skin, causes severe burns, and when inhaled, causes “severe damage.