Uruguay bans disposable e-cigarettes

The Uruguayan government of Yamandú Orsi has officially banned the sale, importation and registration of disposable e-cigarettes by companies since May 2025, and is expected to make plain packaging applicable for tobacco products, reinforcing the country's pioneering role in public health in the region.[1].

A preventive measure against new forms of addiction

E-cigarettes have been shown to help people quit smoking within the defined framework of well-conducted clinical research protocols. At the same time, they are a source of entry for young people into nicotine addiction and even tobacco use. Finally, their chronic use has harmful effects, particularly on the respiratory and cardiovascular health of their users.

Data collected in Uruguayan schools show a downward trend in nicotine consumption from conventional tobacco cigarettes, but a sharp increase in the use of flavored e-cigarettes, particularly since their appearance in convenience stores. 9.9% of young people aged 13 to 15 used e-cigarettes in the month preceding the survey.

Since 2022, several Latin and Central American countries, including Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Venezuela, have also restricted or banned the sale of disposable e-cigarettes. According to a 2023 World Health Organization survey, e-cigarette use among adolescents now exceeds that of adults in some capital cities in the region, undermining progress made in tobacco control.

According to epidemiologist Luis Raimondi, this development compromises the gains made over the years in the fight against tobacco, as tobacco continues to weigh heavily on the country, with 18 people dying prematurely from it every day.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) describes a "gateway" phenomenon, in which young e-cigarette users then migrate to traditional cigarettes. With this in mind, the Uruguayan government is seeking to restrict access to these products, which are considered a gateway to nicotine addiction.

Health Minister Cristina Lustemberg has therefore announced a ban on the importation, sale, advertising, and even use of disposable e-cigarettes, including in isolated locations. She describes them as " an elegant trap » particularly targeting young people.

Educational campaigns are being prepared, as are pilot programs to recover used devices. Meanwhile, some companies are developing alternatives they claim are more sustainable: rechargeable devices with bioplastic casings and removable batteries are being tested in Brazil and Mexico. Uruguay and other countries in the region are also considering coordination within MERCOSUR to harmonize regulations and limit illicit channels.

Growing environmental consequences

Beyond health concerns, Uruguayan authorities also highlight the environmental impact of disposable e-cigarettes. Each device contains a lithium battery, electronic components, and nicotine and propylene glycol-based liquids. According to estimates from the Pan American Health Organization, 120 million single-use e-cigarettes will be discarded in Latin America by 2024, representing a significant amount of unrecycled lithium.

This waste poses risks to waste management systems and the environment. Once crushed in landfills, batteries can cause fires. In marine environments, plastic tips are often mistaken for natural prey. The Uruguayan organization Oceano Vivo has recorded, since January 2025, 17 cases of sea turtles stranded after ingestion of e-cigarette fragments containing nicotine residue.

Recycling these devices remains complex, as e-cigarettes are generally sealed for cost reasons, making dismantling them difficult for local infrastructure. For authorities, the ban therefore also aims to curb growing pollution at the source, in addition to efforts to manage waste already present in ecosystems.

Uruguay, a pioneer in the fight against tobacco and vaping

This isn't the first time the country has positioned itself as a pioneer. Since ratifying the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in 2005, Uruguay has implemented smoking bans since 2006, a true pioneer in the region. The country has also adopted a total ban on advertising, promotion, and sponsorship, as well as providing smoking cessation support in primary care. The country distinguished itself in the early 2010s by adopting broad health warnings on packaging combined with the inability of manufacturers to use their brands. A lawsuit by Philip Morris against the country failed, supported by international mobilization. This legal decision was important in recognizing the legitimacy of a country's desire to defend its citizens against economic interests.

The country was also the first in the region to adopt plain packaging for tobacco products. However, the implementation of the measure was suspended with the arrival of the Lacalle Pou government. However, a legal challenge condemning this government's decision should lead to the measure being made effective.

Finally, among the other avenues considered by the country to accelerate the fight against tobacco, there are, among others, an increase in tobacco taxes to improve public health and finances.

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[1]Latin American Post, Uruguay's Bold Disposable Vapes Ban Boosts Environmental Awareness, published June 4, 2025, accessed June 5, 2025

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