Vapeadores de México v. Mexico

Vapeadores de México asked the Federal Commission for the Protection Against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS) whether the import, distribution, and sale of e-cigarettes and e-liquids required the issuance of an authorization or license and/or health permit and what requirements must be met. COFEPRIS responded that the General Law on Tobacco Control does not contemplate that and that the importation and sale of those products are banned under the scope of Article 16(VI), which states: "It is prohibited to trade, sell, distribute, display, promote or produce any object that is not a tobacco product, that contains some of the brand elements or any type of design or auditory sign that identifies it with tobacco products." Unhappy with the response, Vapeadores de México filed an Amparo action alleging violations of the constitutional principles of equality, legality, and non-discrimination.

The Ministers of the Second Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) decided in unanimity that it is unconstitutional to ban the sale of electronic cigarettes while, on the other hand, the sale of tobacco products is allowed in Mexico. The Court upheld previous courts' decisions, considering that even though the law seeks to protect the right to health, this cannot be done at the cost of an excessive affectation of other goods and rights. The Ministers agreed that prohibiting the sale of these products in order to protect public health and the environment violates the right to equality and the proportionality principle since, at the same time, the sale of tobacco products is allowed.

This ruling applies only to the plaintiff who was a party to this case, Vapeadores de México. However, if the same court issues five judgments with identical holdings, the decision would be binding nationally. This is the second such decision by the Second Chamber.

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“Vapeadores de México, Sociedad Anónima de Capital Variable, v. Cámaras de Diputados y de Senadores del Congreso de la Unión, Presidente de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos, Directora Ejecutiva de Autorizaciones de Comercio Internacional y Publicidad de la Comisión Federal para la Protección Contra Riesgos Sanitarios (COFEPRIS)”, Amparo en Revisión No. 762/2017, Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación (Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation), (2017).

  • Mexico
  • Nov 15, 2017
  • Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación – Segunda Sala

Parties

Plaintiff Vapeadores de México, Sociedad Anónima de Capital Variable

Defendant

  • Chamber of Deputies of the Congress of the Union
  • Chambers of Senators of the Congress of the Union
  • Executive Director of International Trade Authorizations and Advertising of the Federal Commission for Protection Against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS)
  • President of the United Mexican States

Legislation Cited

General Law on Tobacco Control (Ley General para el Control del Tabaco)

Amparo Law

Constitution of Mexico

Organic Law of Judicial Power

Plenary General Agreement 5/2013

International/Regional Instruments Cited

Related Documents

Type of Litigation

Tobacco Control Topics

None

Substantive Issues

Type of Tobacco Product