Businesses Seek Protection Against New Tobacco Regulations
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Businesses Seek Protection Against New Tobacco Regulations

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Rodrigo Andrade By Rodrigo Andrade | Journalist & Industry Analyst - Mon, 01/16/2023 - 08:21

The National Chamber of Restaurants and Seasoned Foods (CANIRAC) of Nuevo Leon denounced the amendments to the Regulations of the General Law for Tobacco Control, claiming that the changes will directly affect thousands of establishments, according to Daniel García, President, CANIRAC Nuevo Leon.

García highlighted that the new regulations will have a significant negative impact on the establishments that had previously invested in building spaces for smoking both indoors and outdoors. He said that the organization may be able to take legal action to defend these businesses from the new regulations.

The modifications to the General Law for Tobacco Control were published on Dec. 16, 2022, through the Official Journal of the Federation. These adjustments prohibit tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship and expand “free of smoke” spaces at schools, beaches, workplaces and other spaces. The law states that it aims to prevent over 49,000 premature deaths and 292 cases of diseases linked to tobacco addiction in a 10-year period, as reported by MBN. 

"The new provisions for the regulations of the Law for Tobacco Control of the Ministry of Health, which will come into force on Jan. 15, will seriously harm the restaurant industry, as they do not consider or respect the effort and investment already made by businessmen in the industry to comply with the law, which previously required having exclusive areas for customers who smoke," said García, according to El Economista.

The organization will seek to work with its members and with CANIRAC’s country arm to seek legal protection. Thousands of businesses are worried about the impact of these changes on their sales. 

"For the foregoing reasons and based on the legal consultations we have made with our experts, an Amparo is the only way for our members to defend themselves. Those who consider getting one will have until February 24 to file their individual amparos," said García. 

Monterrey’s National Chamber of Commerce, Services and Tourism (CANACO) also denounced the law’s new changes, claiming it “overturns the provisions of the law.” The association said that it “would be the first time in the country that a legal product is concealed for sale by official order,” according to El Economista. The organizations said that these changes could significantly impact over 60,000 small businesses as these products can represent over 15 percent of a small business’ total monthly sales, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI).

Photo by:   klimkin

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