2021/10/19|Knowledge
Costa Rican legislators recently approved a bill in the second debate, which will prohibit the use of electronic cigarette products in public places and impose a 20% tax on electronic cigarette dealers.
In 2020, Costa Rica's tobacco tax collection reached 27.185 billion colones, but the cost of treating and caring for smoking related diseases exceeded 300 billion colones. It is reported that the bill was passed by 33 votes in favour and 7 votes against. In addition to banning the use of e-cigarettes in most public places, the bill also lays the foundation for the country to tax e-cigarette equipment and accessories (such as coils and e-cigarette oil).
A congressman who supported the Bill said, "this is fully in line with the health warning we have issued on the use of electronic cigarette devices. We are even very clear that no research shows that electronic cigarette is a smoking cessation therapy. On the contrary, we must curb the use of cigarettes and evaporators."