Costa Rica Postpones Strict Vape Regulation Until August 2027
Costa Rica delays strict vape regulation to August 2027 to strengthen enforcement capacity.Summary
The Costa Rican Ministry of Health has postponed the implementation of Technical Regulation RTCR 519-2025, which sets stringent rules for the sale, manufacture, and marketing of vape liquids, from August 2026 to August 2027. The delay, announced in a June 26 decree, is intended to give authorities more time to build the technical, operational, and administrative capacity needed to enforce the law effectively, including acquiring advanced laboratory equipment such as an inductively coupled plasma spectrometer. The regulation remains unchanged, covering all nicotine and nicotine‑free vape liquids, and imposes strict flavor, aroma, packaging, and marketing restrictions. Public health advocates criticize the postponement as bureaucratic and potentially harmful to youth protection, while officials emphasize that the extension will lead to stronger oversight and better protection of children and adolescents.
(Source：The Costa Rica News)
