Market & legal data in the tobacco alternatives sector in Uruguay

13th December 2023: Uruguay: The Administrative Tribunal has unanimously rejected the appeal brought by the Uruguayan Tobacco Association to annul a decree authorising the sale of heated tobacco, press reports. The Court dismissed the appeal for lack of legal standing, since only the holder of a legitimate right or interest violated by the decree can file an appeal, and the Court only responds to the need to protect individual rights.
30th August 2023: Uruguay: The Chamber of Representatives – the lower house of the General Assembly – has rejected part of a bill that would impose a 70% tax on the retail price of heated tobacco devices and consumables. The tax increase was removed from the previous bill and sent to the Finance Committee to be considered by legislators separately, with the potential for it to become another bill in the future.
4th July 2023: Uruguay: Economy minister Azucena Arbeleche has submitted a bill to the General Assembly that would impose a 70% tax on the retail price of heated tobacco devices and consumables and “other products for recreational use as determined by the Executive Power”. The bill would also amend the Tobacco Act to prohibit the use of colorants, flavour enhancers, vitamins, fruit and vegetable extracts, or stimulants in tobacco products.
28th October 2022: Uruguay: The Executive Branch issued a decree obligating tobacco companies to submit a statement indicating the number of units sold per month of each brand and size to the Ministry of Health every semester. The decree specifically mentions that the obligation applies to heated tobacco.
27th September 2022: Uruguay: Senators from the centre-right National Party have proposed scrapping the planned tax on heated tobacco products currently under debate, press reports. The bill, already approved by the Chamber of Deputies, would set up a 70% tax on heated tobacco products, including accessories.
13th September 2022: Uruguay: The Health Ministry has published a list of criteria for the approval of tobacco products, including heated tobacco. They include a ban on the use on packaging of messages that suggest products are less risky to health, including naming ingredients or including words such as “light” or “mild”.
5th September 2022: Uruguay: Miguel Asqueta, director general of the Ministry of Health, has said that Decree 87/2021, which authorised the sale of heated tobacco products, did not originate from the ministry, which did not support it, press reports. He added that no company had applied for a permit to import or market heated tobacco. His comments followed criticism of the decree by representative Sandra Etcheverry of the government centre-right National Party.

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