Chile has implemented a new comprehensive law, Ley 21.642, effective Tuesday, May 20th, to regulate the use, sale, and promotion of electronic cigarettes (vapes). The new regulations largely equate restrictions for vaping devices, both with and without nicotine, to those already in place for traditional tobacco products.
Key provisions include a ban on vaping in enclosed public spaces such as restaurants, shopping malls, offices, elevators, and cinemas. The sale of e-cigarettes to individuals under 18 years of age is now strictly prohibited, and sales are also forbidden within a 100-meter radius of educational institutions. This legislative action follows years of concern regarding the health effects of vaping, highlighted by incidents like the 2019 EVALI outbreak in the U.S.
Health experts, like Dr. Felipe Rivera from the University of Chile Clinical Hospital, have warned that vapes "are not innocuous; they are as harmful or more so than traditional cigarettes," citing high nicotine concentrations and other toxic substances. Data from SENDA indicated that in 2023, 8.6% of students reported monthly e-cigarette use, while traditional tobacco use among students had declined. Acting Health Minister Andrea Albagli hailed the law as a "milestone in public health protection, especially for children and adolescents." Violations, such as vaping in prohibited areas or educational facilities, will incur minimum fines of 137,000 pesos (approx. 2 UTM).
