Last June 30, Law No. 315 came in to force in Panama. This is a Law that prohibits the use, importation and commercialization of electronic nicotine delivery systems, electronic cigarettes, vaporizers, tobacco heaters and other similar devices, with or without nicotine.

This law includes bans for:

• Use of the products in places where the consumption of tobacco products is banned.
• Internet purchase or promotion of the products.
• Trade of the products in all the territory of the Republic of Panama. It includes an exception for imports of the products in free zones or special economic areas, for export and re-export to a third country.

The owners, managers or administrators of public and private environments, open and closed, where the use of the products is prohibited, must:

• Display signs, in visible places, indicating the ban on the use of the products.
• Adopt policies and procedures to their employees to prevent the use of the products.
• Request any person using the products to refrain from such action. Upon refusal of this request, require the offender to leave the premises and/or request assistance from the National Police for eviction.

Infringements to this law include:

• Allow trade of the products in the Republic of Panama.
• Use the products in places where there is a total prohibition for their use.
• Failure to inform, at the entrance of commercial establishments, the ban on the use of the products, in places where there is a total prohibition for their use.

The penalties for those who violate the law are those established in the Sanitary Code.

If you require more information on this topic, please do not hesitate to contact us.