Colombia’s consumer protection authority released for public comment a draft resolution proposing new restrictions on the display, promotion, and commercialization of cigarettes, vaping products, and other nicotine products in Colombia. The initiative follows the provisional suspension by the Council of State of SIC Circulars 5 and 11 of 2012, which sought to regulate the offering and commercialization of these products, and aims to update the applicable rules to reflect current market conditions in Colombia. The draft regulation will be open for comments from May 16 to May 30.
Among the main measures, the proposal establishes that these products must remain out of public view and be stored in non-visible spaces. It also prohibits self-service displays, open showcases, and vending machines, allowing only text-based lists indicating prices or product availability, without images or brand-related graphic elements.
The draft also introduces restrictions applicable to e-commerce and digital platforms. In particular, it contemplates age-verification systems for online purchases and additional requirements for home deliveries, including identity verification upon delivery.
The proposal reopens the discussion regarding the limits between product display and promotion of tobacco and nicotine products, particularly in relation to the scope of the authority’s regulatory powers in this area.
