The Costa Rican government has delayed the implementation of its upcoming vaping regulations, which include a ban on flavored e-cigarettes, by one full year. Signed by President Laura Fernández and Health Minister Alexander Sánchez, Executive Decree No. 45853-S pushes the enforcement date to August 6, 2027.
The regulatory package, first announced in February by former Health Minister Mary Munive, introduces strict rules for the sale, labeling, and control of vaping devices. However, the executive branch determined that state institutions require additional time to coordinate enforcement efforts, train personnel, and establish verification protocols.
According to the published decree, the extension is an exceptional administrative measure. The government stated that the transition period is necessary to ensure orderly compliance and to build the institutional capacity required to monitor the market effectively.
Health officials emphasized that this postponement is strictly operational. The amendment does not modify, reduce, or weaken any of the technical standards, sanitary requirements, labeling rules, or advertising bans established under the original Executive Decree No. 45479-S.
