- Cofepris warned that sanctions stipulated in current legislation will be applied to those who violate the new norm.
- According to the WHO, every 10 seconds there is a death associated with nicotine use.
- The new General Law for Tobacco Control entered into force on January 15, 2023.
One of the main changes in our country for this 2023 has been the Regulation of the General Law for Tobacco Control. It came into force on January 15 and consists of a total ban on the advertising and promotion of tobacco products, but it also tightens the measures regarding the places where the consumption of cigarettes is allowed.
Regarding the new obligations, they are all described in the Graphic Identity Manual that establishes the lines of application for the new signage, which must be visible to the public. The document can be downloaded for free at this link.
For her part, the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris) advised that it will begin verification visits in coordination with state health authorities. The objective is to monitor that establishments comply with the new Regulation of the General Law for Tobacco Control.
How are the reviews of the establishments?
During the operations, the specialized verifiers are duly accredited before the owners or employees of the establishments, who are informed of the entry into force of the new regulation and the procedure and steps of the inspection to which they will be subject are explained.
Once the verifiers carry out the inspection of the establishment, those places that comply receive a notification, signed by the owner and the verifier, which must be displayed in the place. While, in those where the regulation is violated, it is requested that, in the presence of the authority, packs and cigarettes located in shops be destroyed.
Cofepris, in coordination with the state health authorities, verifies compliance with the Regulations of the General Law for Tobacco Control 🚭https://t.co/OI4G9Cl4P0 pic.twitter.com/00I0P6fcjh
— COFEPRIS (@COFEPRIS) February 23, 2023
This health agency will monitor that no tobacco product is displayed directly or indirectly at points of sale and other places where they are marketed, sold, distributed, supplied or sold. Likewise, surveillance actions are carried out in the media to prevent the advertising of this type of product.
How much is the amount of the fine for not complying with the new Regulations of the General Law for Tobacco Control?
This authority warns that it will apply sanctions to those who fail to comply with the Regulations of the General Law for Tobacco Control, such as: reprimand with warning; a fine ranging from one to 100 Measurement and Update Units (UMAS), that is, from 103.74 to 10,374 Mexican pesos; and temporary or permanent closure, which may be partial or total, to establishments that do not guarantee spaces that are one hundred percent free of smoke and emissions.
Also read:
WHO recognizes Mexico for the new General Law for Tobacco Control
Cofepris publishes the manual for smoke-free spaces: You can download it here
WHO recognizes Mexico for the new General Law for Tobacco Control
