Alternative tobacco and nicotine products in Uruguay

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.

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.

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”.

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.