Market & legal data in the tobacco alternatives sector in Costa Rica

12th August 2024: Costa Rica: The Ministry of Health has published the regulations to law 10.066, which regulates the use of heated tobacco. The regulations expand the places where the use of heated tobacco is prohibited, establish that sales must be carried out exclusively on the shelves located at the cash registers in commercial establishments that do not sell tobacco products as their main products, and add a definition of “complementary goods” for tax purposes. These requirements came into force with the publication of the regulations in the Official Gazette on 9th August.
19th June 2024: Costa Rica: The Constitutional Chamber has ordered the Ministry of Health to issue the regulations of law 10.066 – which regulated the use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco – within two months, press reports. The Ministry of Health justified the delay in issuing the regulations by the need of a public consultation and the government transition. The regulations are allegedly ready, and now need to go through a final review and then be signed by the president.
15th May 2024: Costa Rica: The Ministry of Health has presented the regulations of law 10.066, which establishes a legal framework for the use and sale of vaping and heated tobacco products. Products containing synthetic nicotine will be banned. The authority said it is working on technical regulations that will be subject to national and international public consultation, as well as a bill to correct legal deficiencies in law 10.066.
29th September 2022: Costa Rica: A bill imposing neutral packaging for tobacco products, including heated tobacco, has received the approval of the Legislative Assembly Social Affairs Committee, press reports. The bill, which would also ban advertising and increase the size of health warnings from 50% to 80% of the package area, will now go to the full Assembly to be voted on in two debates.
18th March 2022: Costa Rica: The Ministry of Health and the Costa Rican Social Security Fund asked the National Assembly to approve the bill that imposes neutral packaging for tobacco products, including heated tobacco, press reports. The bill also eliminates advertising and increases the size of health warnings from 50% to 80% of the package area. The bill has been under discussion in the Social Committee since September 2021.
16th March 2022: Costa Rica: Yesterday was the deadline for payment of the tax on heated tobacco devices and accessories. Taxpayers who fail to comply are subject to a penalty of CRC231,100 ($361) plus daily interest.

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